Maggie Low's book, God, I’m Angry!, has influenced how victims perceive their enemies and understand the benefits of imprecatory psalms. In this blog post, Maggie shares another reader's testimony.
A few months after the launch of God, I’m Angry!, this message appeared in my WhatsApp. He was someone I knew but not well.
“Hi Dr. Maggie,
I’m texting to thank you.
I’ve been homebound, trying to recover from a nasty cough for the past few days. I was bored, and your book, God, I’m Angry!, was staring right at me from my bookshelf. I picked it up at 9 am this morning, and I did not stop reading until I’ve just finished the whole book at 6 pm. After reading, I felt an immense peace in my heart, and somehow, my anger for an enemy miraculously melted away.
That enemy was the driver who knocked me down by his reckless driving two years ago. I suffered brain injuries, from which I am still receiving treatment. What's worse is that I am not compensated, not even with a single cent, to this day. His insurance company would not cover him because he had breached some conditions. Then when my lawyers followed up with him, he absconded and was not contactable. The traffic police had already charged him for reckless driving, but I’m still living with the effects and costs of the accident.
Nonetheless, I thank God for using you and your book in such a timely way to reframe my mind.”
Nonetheless, I thank God for using you and your book in such a timely way to reframe my mind.
Subsequently, I met up with the text writer to talk more and pray. I encouraged him to write a lament psalm expressing his feelings to God. Below is his prayer, which was originally written over two days as he revisited the painful past two years. Eventually, it gave him a greater sense of closure, having committed everything to God.
O God of my refuge and my strength! O God of justice!
Your plans are to prosper, never to harm, and to give me hope for the future.
Yet, I’m plagued by chronic illnesses, as well as brain trauma from the road accident.
I plea for your healing hands to come upon me,
Woe to you! The driver that caused my pain!
Your reckless driving and feckless hiding have wrecked my life.
May you never get to drive another day!
May God’s vengeance chase you while you try to run.
My God, I wanted to serve you, but now I’m impaired.
Still, I know I am living in your plans.
Two years have passed since the accident, but your mercies are new every morning!
Great is thy faithfulness, oh God!
*Edited by Maggie Low for length.
God, I'm Angry! provides a step-by-step guide for application in pastoral counselling contexts and includes real-life examples from Maggie Low’s extensive ministry experience. Examining the psalms of vengeance in their original context, author also establishes that there is such a thing as a healthy, and holy, expression of anger – a way to "do anger" with God that makes space for healing and restored relationship. It is a source of practical wisdom for spiritual and emotional growth towards freedom, wholeness, and fullness of life
