"God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab. How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him? Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him... ...Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse." --- Job 9:13-14, 9:20

Ever feel like Job did there? Do you ever have a moment where you just think, "look, God, I'm doing everything right! Why are you still so hard on me? You're so cruel."

That may not be the thought verbatim, but it is the distilled essence, and it reveals a disturbing tendency: unable to see our own sin when in the midst thereof, we cast blame on God instead. Surely, since it's not our fault (as far as we can tell), it must be God's fault. He's just being mean or overreacting or something.

But stop! He is God. He is by very definition not cruel.

"Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love." --- 1 John 4:8

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." --- Psalm 46:1

Far from cruel and belligerent, God is love, and he is our refuge in times of trouble.

In our own hubris and self-pity, we forget one of the very central themes of Christianity itself:

"He who did not spare his Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies." --- Romans 8:32-33

It is God who justifies --- apart from him there is no conception of blamelessness. It is impossible to be guiltless and yet accused by God, because it is impossible to be guiltless at all, unless God first makes us so.

In times of trial, the correct response is not a retaliation of the heart, but a careful examination thereof.

And of course, we do well to remember that trials from God are not His wrath upon us, but His mercy to continually conform us to His image. If we keep this in mind, our trust in God will be affirmed and solidified during hard times, not eroded.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." --- James 1:2-4