Grieving God

Grieving God
The Lord was grieved that he made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
Genesis 6:6 NIV
How can a person grieve God? We suffer God by fighting His word, a sort of kicking against the goads (Acts 26:14). At least, that is what my “friends” seemed to be doing in their defense of gay people and gay marriage. They recoiled at God’s word and said to me; "Your thoughts are archaic. You have a closed mind." And in a feeble attempt to reason with me my friend asked, "What do you care what others say and do? Those people are good people, better than most. Who are they hurting?" My answer was that, "They are hurting themselves… they are hurting God."
My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). The ideas, thoughts and ways of the world are in direct contrast (opposition) to that of God. And to embrace the world’s ways is to reject the way of God. Do you think that the rejection causes God pain? Does it hurt Him when we out-and-out ignore His word for social acceptance? Is God pushed into misery because we prefer our own way as opposed to following His truth?
I have spoken to a lot of non believers (and a few believers) that look down their noses at me and think I am a miserable weak-minded fool for believing God and His word. But someone once reminded me that they aren't rejecting me, they are rejecting God. And though it is true, that their rejection is ultimately pointed at God, I have to say that this time I think I know just how God feels. And it isn’t a good feeling.