Dealing With Anger - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

  Dealing With Anger - Christ’s Commission Fellowship

Who among us has never been angry before? Anger is an emotion that all of us can identify with. It’s described as the feeling of displeasure at events or at the behavior of other people that causes tension and often an attitude of hostility toward the offender.

Not all anger is bad. It’s possible to be angry and not sin. Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be angry, and yet do not sin…” God’s anger is righteous anger. The Old Testament mentions God’s anger 370 times. The New Testament tells of instances when Jesus became angry, like when money changers crowded the temple, and when the Pharisees disapproved of Jesus’ healing of the man with the withered hand during Sabbath. God’s righteous anger is roused when we go against His original design of having fellowship with Him. His anger is bound in love.

On the other hand, our anger is often far from being righteous or being bound in love. Whether we spew out anger like a volcano, or let ourselves stew in bitterness, or spray small amounts of anger at intervals, most of the time, our anger is sinful and destructive.

This anger can lead to manipulation and violence. While anger can tear relationships apart, it inflicts the most destruction on the self. Anger can actually lead to gastric ulcers, heart failure and stroke. According to a London University study, anger causes “emotional stress that can interfere with signals from the brain to the heart. This disruption triggers abnormal heart rhythms which account for well over 400,000 sudden deaths a year.” But anger’s effects go beyond the physical. Mark Twain says, “Anger is the only acid that does more damage to the vessel in which it’s stored, than on objects on which it is poured.” Take Saul for instance. Saul became angry at David because of jealousy. When he saw that the Lord was with David, Saul also became afraid of him. Saul tried to manipulate things to harm David but to no avail. His pursuit of David culminated in his own death.

We need to deal with our anger – and we have to do it immediately. Ephesians 4:26 continues, “Do not to let the sun go down on your anger” When we give free reign to anger, we give the enemy a foothold, an entry point into our hearts
and lives.

The good news is, we can control our anger! Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back.” And Proverbs 16:32 says, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” To control anger, first we must find out where it’s coming from. We must identify and acknowledge the root of our anger so that we can put a stop to it. Next, we need to confess our anger to the Lord. Yes, we tell Him how we feel, but more importantly, we surrender our anger to Him. After making things right with the Lord, we need to make things right with the offended. This is an essential part of worshiping God. Matthew 5:23-24 says, ”Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”

Anger is a very powerful emotion. But it has an antidote: forgiveness (Ephesians 4:31-32). If you’re harboring any anger or bitterness in your heart today, let go, and let God. God’s love and strength are enough to enable you to forgive and live a life free of anger.