Answers in the Bible About: Anger

Anger is a very powerful emotion. Everyone deals with anger in a unique way - it isn't always red-faced and screaming. Sometimes anger is seething under the surface, and rears its head in the form of sarcastic remarks or other passive aggressive attitudes and behaviors. Looking to the bible, we can find hope in dealing with anger.

Anger can be a cleansing emotion, or one that poisons everything we say and do. How can anger be controlled when it gets out of hand? What is anger telling us? When we deal with anger properly, it can be turned into healthy changes.

If your anger bothers you or those around you, it is a good idea to take a look at it. An honest perusal of what incites your anger and how you react is the first step. Think of some recent times that you lost your cool. Is there a pattern? When I dealt with my anger issues, I had to first be honest and admit that it was not the other person or event causing my anger. In other words, I had to take responsibility and ownership of the anger. If you are in the habit of justifying your actions or words done in anger, you will never be able to make a change.

At the heart of unruly anger is a feeling of powerlessness and vulnerability. This is perhaps the worst type of anger, because the person believes they cannot control it. Realizing you control your reaction to an angering event will allow you to take control back. So to recap, we're looking at what makes us angry, and we're admitting that it was under our power to react differently.

You may be feeling bad about yourself right about now. The Bible has a term for this - it's called "Godly sorrow". 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV) explains that, 'Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death'. In other words, there is no hope in worldly sorrow, but through God's spirit, there is hope for change. Verse 11, 'See what this Godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.' Isn't that beautiful? God never leaves us where we are, but he puts in us earnestness and a desire for justice to be done. If you have wronged someone in your anger, loved one of God, go and offer your humble apology.

Anger is a sure thing in life, but giving it full reign doesn't have to be. Ephesians 4:26 tells us, "In your anger, do not sin." An angry reaction can sometimes be avoided by noticing it from the onset. Can you feel your emotions starting to rise? Are your shoulders tense? Consciously relax them. Are you beginning to yell? Take a break and let your breathe out and slowly back in. Breathing slowly lets your body know you are under control.

These things are the beginning of good changes. Anger is not so easily conquered, and it will take time to begin creating better attitudes. Changing any long term behavior will take practice. There are so many reasons that we experience anger, and only God can point you to the true cause and allow you to see what needs to be done in that specific situation. Perhaps you need to assert yourself, or set better boundaries with your children, let the past go, or stop worrying about the small stuff, maybe you need to accept others as they are, or accept the lot God has given you - these examples just scratch the surface as to what is truly at the root. Use your own wisdom and God's direction - if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him (James 1:5 NIV).

As you fill your mind with these truths from God's word, let them take root in your mind. When you fail, forgive yourself. Know that God accepts us as we are, but luckily he never leaves us the way he found us.

Source:

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All Rights Reserved.

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