When God Feels Like Fire and Shelter

Wrestling with God’s Wrath and Love at the Same Time

Jun 11, 2025

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Welcome friend,
I’m Mark, and this space is for the wanderers, the worn out, and the ones still wrestling with God at 2 a.m. I don’t have all the answers, but I know the One who does—and I’m learning to trust Him more.
If this message meets you where you are, stick around. Subscribe, share, or simply pray with me as we walk this narrow road together.
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The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
Psalm 103:8

I used to picture God as either really mad or disappointed. If I had a bad day or did something wrong, I imagined Him frowning from heaven. But on the days I tried hard to do right, I hoped He was smiling. It felt like a guessing game.

We hear that God is love. We also read that God gets angry. So which one is true? Can both be true at the same time?

Let’s look at what the Bible says. And let’s talk honestly about it. Because if you’re anything like me, you’ve wondered about this too.

Part 1: What Is God’s Wrath?

The word "wrath" can sound terrifying. It makes people think of punishment or harsh judgment. But that’s not what God’s wrath is. God doesn’t get angry the same way people do. He never loses His temper or acts unfairly.

God’s wrath is His holy and right reaction to sin. Sin is anything that goes against God's goodness. It's lying, cheating, hurting others, ignoring God, and living selfishly. God hates sin because it hurts people. He created us for love and truth—not for pain and evil.

God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all sin.
Romans 1:18

Imagine a judge who lets people get away with stealing or hurting others. That would not be a good judge. A good judge wants justice. That’s what God’s wrath is about. It’s not about hate. It’s about justice. Because God loves what is right, He has to deal with what is wrong.

God’s wrath also reminds us that our choices matter. The things we say and do, the way we treat others, and even the way we treat ourselves—all of it matters to God. He’s not distant. He sees us and He wants us to live in truth, not in lies.

Part 2: What Is God’s Love?

Even though God is just and holy, He is also full of love. His love is strong, deep, and never-ending. And here’s the amazing part:

God proved His love by sending Jesus while we were still sinners.
Romans 5:8

That means God didn’t wait for us to be perfect. He didn’t wait until we stopped messing up. He sent His Son Jesus to die for us even while we were still choosing sin.

His love is also patient. He doesn’t give up on us quickly. He keeps calling us back even when we run. He disciplines us to bring us home. He wants us to be free from the chains that keep dragging us down. That’s love.

Part 3: When You Feel Stuck Between the Two

There have been times in my life when I felt like I couldn’t come to God. I felt too guilty. I kept thinking about all the ways I failed. One verse used to scare me:

“I never knew you; depart from Me.”
Matthew 7:23

That hit hard. I thought, “What if that’s me? What if God turns me away?”

But then I read something else:

The Lord longs to be gracious to you. He rises to show you compassion.
Isaiah 30:18

That verse made me pause. God isn’t waiting to crush us. He’s waiting to show us love. He wants to forgive. He wants us to come home.

Yes, He is holy. Yes, He judges sin. But He also opens His arms wide to anyone who turns to Him.

If you’ve been walking around with shame like a heavy coat, God wants to take that off you. He wants to give you a new identity. One that says you are loved, forgiven, and chosen. Not because you earned it. But because He gave it freely.

Part 4: Why We Need Both

If God was only full of wrath and never loving, we would have no hope. We would always live in fear.

If God was only loving but didn’t care about sin, we wouldn’t have justice. Evil would win, and pain would never end.

But God is both. That’s what makes Him perfect. He deals with sin, and He offers grace. He is a fire that burns away sin and a shelter that holds the broken.

Jesus carried our sins in His body on the cross.
1 Peter 2:24

Jesus took the wrath of God so we could receive the love of God.

That changes everything. We no longer have to live with fear hanging over us. We can live in freedom—not because we are perfect, but because Jesus is. His sacrifice covers us. His grace changes us. His love draws us near.

Part 5: Keep Wrestling, Don’t Let Go

In the Bible, a man named Jacob wrestled with God all night. He didn’t win. But he didn’t let go. And when the night was over, God gave him a new name.

If you’re wrestling with God’s wrath and love, you’re not alone. Wrestling means you care. It means you want to understand. Don’t give up. Don’t walk away. Keep asking questions. Keep praying. Keep reading.

God is not afraid of your doubts. He meets you in the middle of them.

Wrestling is not the opposite of faith. Sometimes, it’s part of faith. It means you are willing to lean in and engage with God even when things are hard. Even when answers don’t come fast. Even when the road feels dark.

You can bring your anger, your guilt, your fear, your questions—all of it. God can handle it. He’s not going anywhere.

A simple prayer for the lost, the broken, the wanderers and the searching:

Reflective Questions

Have you ever felt like God was mad at you? Why?
How does it make you feel to know God is both just and loving?
Is there a part of your life where you need to receive God's forgiveness?
What would it look like to trust both God’s justice and His mercy?
When have you wrestled with God in your life? What came out of it?
How can you grow in your understanding of God's character this week?

Conclusion

We often want God to be one thing—only loving or only just—because it feels simpler. But our God is bigger than that. He is holy and He is kind. He burns with righteous anger against sin, and He overflows with mercy toward the sinner who comes home. In Jesus, we see both sides of God come together perfectly. At the cross, wrath was satisfied and love was poured out.

Call to Repentance:
If you’ve been trying to earn your way into heaven, it’s time to stop striving and start surrendering. Today can be the day everything changes. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Don’t wait for a better moment. Turn from your sin, believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and receive the gift of eternal life. He is calling—respond to Him today.