“I thought I was over him! So why did my heart still rip? Why did I still feel this sorrow? I got this strange sensation that God was with me. And he was angry. He was very angry--not at me and not at Jack. God was angry at the pain I was going through. I wondered if that was why God hated sin, because of the destruction it caused. For a moment I felt awe for a God who loved me enough to hate the things that hurt me without hating me for causing them.”
Quote Analysis
In this quote from Susan E. Isaacs, the speaker reflects on the lingering feelings of heartbreak despite believing she had moved on. The speaker experiences a profound sense of divine presence and anger, attributing it to God's displeasure over the pain she is going through. This realization leads the speaker to a deeper understanding of God's love and hatred for sin, as a means of protecting His beloved from harm. The speaker expresses awe and gratitude towards a God who can hate the things that cause suffering without hating the person affected by them. This quote illustrates a complex mix of emotions and spiritual insight that highlights the speaker's journey towards healing and understanding.
Modern Relevance
In this passage from Susan E. Isaacs, the speaker reflects on her feelings of heartbreak and the presence of God in her life. Despite the pain she is experiencing, she finds comfort in the idea that God is not angry at her or her ex-partner, but at the pain and destruction caused by sin. This reflection speaks to the timeless struggle of dealing with heartbreak and finding solace in the belief that a higher power is watching over us with love and understanding.
Example of Usage
In this powerful quote from Susan E. Isaacs, the protagonist grapples with feelings of heartbreak and sorrow, ultimately finding solace in the belief that God is with her, feeling angry at the pain she is experiencing. This moment of reflection inspires awe for a God who loves her enough to hate the things that cause her harm.
Reflection Questions:
As you reflect on these powerful words from Susan E. Isaacs, consider the following questions:
Have you ever experienced a situation where you thought you were over someone or something, yet found yourself still feeling deep sorrow or pain? What emotions did you experience in that moment?
How do you interpret the idea of God being angry at the pain you were experiencing, rather than at you or the person causing the pain? How does this perspective shift your understanding of God's love and compassion?
In what ways does this passage make you rethink the concept of sin and God's response to it? Do you see sin as something that God hates because of the harm it causes, rather than as a personal attack on individuals?
Consider the author's moment of feeling awe for a God who loves them enough to hate the things that hurt them. How does this perspective challenge your own beliefs about God's love and protection in times of suffering or pain?
Similar quotes
“I know. So, I was angry with you. I didn't know why. I was angry with the world. I did know why. I hated all my therapists for being useless. I was this little ball of self-destructive fury, and none of them could do anything but tell me that I was a little ball of self-destructive fury. [...] I knew I was angry. Tell me what to do with that anger, please.”
“I was angry at God until I came to understand that it isn't God's fault when people mistreat me. I still have my doubts at times, but I try to remember that God has given them the same free will that He's given me.”
“Because if I let myself feel the pain and the anger, I think it might kill me. Or I might kill someone else. I know it's wrong to feel that way about God and I know its's wrong to not feel anything. I hate it. I don't hate God. I hate not loving Him.”
“Why do you pray?" he asked me, after a moment. Why did I pray? A strange question. Why did I live? Why did I breathe?"I don't know why," I said, even more disturbed and ill at ease. "I don't know why."After that day I saw him often. He explained to me with great insistence that every question possessed a power that did not lie in the answer. "Man raises himself toward God by the questions he asks Him," he was fond of repeating. "That is the true dialogue. Man questions God and God answers. But we don't understand His answers. We can't understand them. Because they come from the depths of the soul, and they stay there until death. You will find the true answers, Eliezer, only within yourself!" "And why do you pray, Moshe?" I asked him. "I pray to the God within me that He will give me the strength to ask Him the right questions.”
“Anger at happenstance for its absurd timing. Anger at myself for being so angry. I hate being angry and every time I got this angry it made me more angry at the fact that I was so angry. I realized though that I couldn't really be mad at any of those things.”