Get Rid of the Anger
But now you must put them all away:
anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. – Colossians 3:8
What is your button? What instantly makes you angry?
What do you have trouble shaking off, putting aside, letting go and moving on
from?
We all have something. It could be a snide comment
from someone. It could be an unfair judgement from a person who has no business
even concerning themselves with your situation. It could be reminders of
leftover anger from situations long ago.
Most anger is normal. Contrary to what some believe,
anger alone isn’t a sin. The sin comes when we harbor bitterness and chronic
anger. Then it overtakes us and consumes us in ways that aren’t healthy for us
and lead us to sin in other ways.
Anger and resentment can’t coincide with forgiveness.
We are to forgive others because God has forgiven us. It has nothing to do with
worthiness. None of us are worthy of forgiveness. It is about grace and mercy.
Forgiveness also isn’t about the other person
repenting and asking for forgiveness. We can’t control what other people do or
don’t do. We can’t control what they say about us or how they feel about us. We
can control how we react. We can forgive and walk away.
Chronic anger is a result of deep hurt. That’s what
our pastor said last Sunday. There’s so much truth in that. We lash out at
others. We allow jealousy and anger to take control. We sin, then use our own
anger in a vain attempt to justify our sin. It’s a vicious cycle and everyone
gets hurt in the end.
Some people try to put salve on their wounds by
attempting to control everyone and everything around them. They want to be in
charge, no matter the cost. And make no mistake, the cost is great. No one
wants to be controlled by others. While they might go along for a time,
eventually that will erupt into something awful. We can’t run other people’s
lives. It’s that simple and that complicated.
We must exercise self-control over our own lives. We
need to get rid of the anger and resentment and jealousies that consume us. It
doesn’t feel natural, does it? Don’t we have a right to rise up against those
who have harmed us? Not according to the Bible. God is the One who takes care
of revenge when His children are harmed. We’re to forgive and move on.
How can we possibly get past it all? By giving it to
God. Again and again, I might add. God sees your struggle. Pray and ask the
Holy Spirit to heal you and allow you to move past the ugliness in your heart. Let
go of the anger and bitterness and allow God’s peace to fill your heart.
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