I enjoy Facebook as a way to stay in touch with my friends and family but recently I have found it necessary to stop seeing the posts of some of my friends, not because of their opinions, but because of the level of anger in their posts. I have heard more than one of my friends admit to feeling discouraged and spiritually depleted. Often it is unresolved anger that saps their spiritual strength like an internal bleed!
Solomon reminds us that anger is a dangerous thing. "The end of a matter is better than its
beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in
your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools." (Ecclesiastes
7:8-9, NIV) I confess that lack of
patience and a temper has led me onto the fool’s pathway too many times in
life.
Anger can be useful. Paul teaches us to ‘be angry, but don’t sin.’ He goes on to tell us that anger cannot be
left to simmer for days. “Do not let the
sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
Another translation says, “don’t
sin by letting anger gain control over you.” (Ephesians 4:26, NLT) A person who cannot feel anger over injustice,
who cannot care deeply enough about people to be stirred in their emotions, may
avoid anger but they are likely to slip into another state which makes them
useless in the work of God – apathy.
So how do we turn the anger into a reason for positive
action, draining the toxic bitterness from our life?
First, if you are
angry, admit it- to yourself and to the Lord. Say, “I am angry” without
offering excuse or justification.
Thinking that all anger is sinful, there are many Christians
who refuse to face it honestly. People
get offended but insist they are 'just
sad,' when they are really angry!
They become are raging inside but will only say, that they are 'hurt.'
If you’re angry at political developments,
at people, at God - admit it. Only then will
you be able to deal with it and give the Holy Spirit a place to begin a heart
change.
Second, work at understanding
the cause of your anger.
Anger is often misdirected.
We get angry when our boss overlooks us at work, but focus the anger on our wife when she tries to tell us something.
We get angry when our boss overlooks us at work, but focus the anger on our wife when she tries to tell us something.
We grow frustrated and angry over chronic illness and it
boils over on our kids. God, the Holy
Spirit, will help you (as will a good, honest friend) to understand the root of
rage, but when He does, be prepared to work hard at change, starting with that
person who stares back at you from your mirror.
Third, kill the
fantasies! Missed expectations feed a ton of rage.
Wouldn’t we love a wonderful world where everyone was nice,
all dreams came true, and people lived happily ever after? The sooner we decide
to deal with the world as it is rather than pretending that somewhere, out
there, there is a place where life works as we desire, the better our lives
will be. People aren't perfect. Dreams don't always come true, no matter how
hard you work at them. Acceptance of
our limitations and of the situations in which we find ourselves provides great
release from unnecessary anger. That does not that we must give up, surrender
hope, or stop praying for change. But,
we must ask the Spirit of God to help us to
know the difference between our fantasies about a 'perfect' world and His dream
for our life which He will equip us to fulfill.
Fourth, ENDURE!
Steady yourself and face the future.
A friend who is in AA, reminded me of a basic truth that
recovering alcoholics learn - "Send
your body and your heart will follow!" In other words, sometimes we do
the right things, just because they are the right things, not because we feel
great passion, enthusiasm, or joy! Sometimes the very best method of dealing
with anger is simply to determine to outlast your enemies and critics as you
kill'em with kindness. That endurance is sustained by the realization that
there is coming a day of just rewards for us all.
Christians can set aside a lot of anger if they keep the
promise of God’s Great Reversal in sight by faith. The injustice that comes to
us personally and in the larger world, the seeming lack of consequence for some
terrible sin, the ‘triumph of the wicked,’ can make us really angry if we fail
to hope for that day when Christ and His kingdom will come and with Him will
come the justice for which we pray. "Do
not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens.
Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need
now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he
has promised. “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not
delay. And a righteous person will live by faith.” (Hebrews 10:35-38, NLT)
This word from the Word is one to which I turn from time to
time. It is the resolution of the anger
felt by one who experiences delayed justice.
"Then I realized that my
heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant—
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you;
you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious
destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on
earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the
strength of my heart; he is mine forever." (Psalm 73:21-26, NLT)
__________
Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance
Jesus is mine
O what a foretaste of
glory divine
Heir of salvation
purchase of God
Born of His Spirit
washed in His blood
This is my story this
is my song
Praising my Savior all
the day long
This is my story this
is my song
Praising my Savior all
the day long
Perfect submission perfect
delight
Visions of rapture now
burst on my sight
Angels descending
bring from above
Echoes of mercy
whispers of love
Perfect submission all is
at rest
I in my Savior am
happy and blest
Watching and waiting
looking above
Filled with His
goodness lost in His love
Fanny Jane Crosby | Phoebe Palmer Knapp
© Words: Public Domain
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