Anger Issues

"Anger feels good for a moment, but the peace, love, and joy given to us because we belong to God's family are forever."

ANGER AND RESENTMENT take you nowhere positive. They solve no problems and bring you nothing good and beneficial. Instead, angers breeds resentment and bitterness. Excuses.

People have used Ephesians 4:26, “Be ye angry, and sin not,” as an excuse, saying it allows anger for a time since the latter half of the verse says, “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” But this is a misunderstanding of the King James translation. The very next verse says, “For when you are angry, you give a mighty foothold to the devil (TLB).” This speaks loudly. There is also Psalm 37:8, “Stop your anger! Turn off your wrath. Don’t fret and worry—it only leads to harm (TLB).” And Colossians 3:8, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”

Too much warning is given throughout the Word of God to being angry and the results of anger for us to make excuses.

Jesus turning over the moneychangers’ tables is another common excuse. We label our fury a fervor for godliness and turn differences in opinions into hatred and debates. But that was a one-time event, and Jesus was the Christ, on the earth speaking the words of the Father. He came to bring peace. We need to seek peace and admit, when we become angry, that we need to change. I’m not saying to forget deliberate sins but don’t set yourself up for an argument with a sinner or someone you know you disagree with.

Colossians 3:14 in the Passion Translation says we are to “tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ.” I love this thought so much. Here is our shortcoming and a reason that we get so angry. We don’t tolerate people’s weaknesses. We correct them instead. But the previous verse says to “be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others.” Unoffendable seems like a tall order. But Psalm 119:165 makes us this promise. It says, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” We could read it, “Great peace have they which love thy word,” as we are no longer obedient to the Law. But how amazing that is, that we could hear what we disagree with and not rise up, not feel anger, but instead be suffused with God’s love for people.

I admit to having anger at certain things I’ve faced. Some situations have caused me to react in frustration. It’s easy to “mouth off,” but the more I’ve seen my behavior highlighted to me through God’s Word and the Spirit of God, the more I’ve wanted to correct it. Frankly, I don’t like that picture of myself, but the only way to overcome it for good is to live hand-in-hand with God. He Is the God of peace. He handles everything with peace. This is the truth of His character. Although the Old Testament seems to paint Him as vindictive, this is our misunderstanding of what is written. He is perfect justice, without being partial. He is complete goodness, without any evil or temptation to use evil. He is complete truth, without any falsehood or lying. He is the God of everlasting mercy.

Yes, the Word of God says He will bring vengeance, that we are not to seek it on our own, but it was God’s love for mankind that sent Jesus and His kindness and gentleness that healed the sick and forgave those fallen in their sins. This is the Father who Jesus came to reveal. What He is asking of us is that we let go of our anger and lay the issues that have upset us in His hands. Then He asks us to put the Word of God in our heart and allow the Holy Spirit to change us into the character of God, to make us like Jesus. Half the victory is realizing we have a problem with anger. The rest is being willing to be corrected. Anger feels good for a moment. But the peace, love, and joy given to us because we belong to God’s family are forever.

“For he has rescued us from the dominance of selfishness and survival-of-the-fittest methods that darken the mind and lead only to death, and has brought us into the kingdom of truth, righteousness, and self-sacrificing love—the kingdom of the Son he loves and through whom we have been healed and experienced complete forgiveness.” (Colossians 1:13-14, Remedy)

“To understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others. Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark of true maturity.” (Colossians 3:12-14 TPT)

“Dear brothers, don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry;” (James 1:19 TLB)

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE: Look for the good in people and take up the habit of prayerfulness. Be always seeking the Father for His best for them and ask to see people through His eyes. You will never be the same.

Angry Emoticon Image by Tumisu from Pixabay
Happy Face Image by kp yamu Jayanath from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com