Reading: Luke 9, Psalm 37:8b

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret--it only causes harm.

One way or the other, we all get mad. While the things that get us torqued, ticked and triggered are different for every person, each of us has a button somewhere inside our souls that makes us see red. And, we all must learn what to do when it gets pushed. It may not seem pleasant feeling it or discussing it. Yet, anger is an integral part of our universal part or our shared human experience. It also happens to be something about which God’s Word has a lot to say.

It first appears in the tiniest infant when protesting a diaper change or demanding a bottle. We see it in the toddler who throws a fit in the grocery store when denied a treat. It’s present in teens whose raging hormones and underdeveloped prefrontal cortex collude to manifest hostile looks, aggressive attitudes and outrageous behavior. It’s present in the adult who uses violence, sarcasm, criticism, manipulation, withdrawal, and revenge as a way to maintain their need for control. We can feel angry when hungry, tired, lonely, or rejected.

Anger is the prevailing undercurrent in our nation today. We see it in incidents of road rage, plane rage, mass shootings, racial prejudice, clashes between police and protestors, burning cities, raging news media and ranting politicians. We see it in successful politicians, CEOs, media celebrities, and spiritual leaders. When angry people get into positions of influence and power, their spirit can infect everything and everyone they lead. Anger is an alarm system. It alerts us to perceived threats and injustices. Anger is a defense mechanism. It activates our drive for self preservation and can motivate us to take action to correct a wrong.

We get angry because God gets angry - and He made us in His image. The big difference is that God’s anger is righteous and always tempered by His wisdom and mercy. He’s the only one who can handle anger perfectly. Us? Not so much. In our fallen condition we humans struggle to manage anger well. Our flesh is impulsive and our unrenewed minds reactive. When our deepest needs fail to get met over time, anger can become a destructive force - to ourselves and others. People who have been victims of another’s rage may grow up using anger to control others. Others end up avoiding anger at all costs - refusing to experience it in themselves or with others. Some people hide their rage and mask it with curt smiles and condescending looks. Others carry a persona of anger -always seeming to exude a burning hostility just under the surface - keeping everyone around them on edge awaiting an eruption. A persona of anger can be present in a family when one spouse or parent uses intimidation, withdrawal or explosive outbursts to get their way.

There’s a reason for this. Simply stated, anger is effective. It can intimidate and frighten others into doing the things we want. It can rally complacent people to support a cause we care about. Anger is also clarifying. The brain loses its capacity for complex thinking when we become angry. Our fight or flight responses kick in, and everything becomes good or bad, black or white, holy or wicked. Absolutes make us feel comfortable and confident. Of course, the great problem with unmanaged anger is that many problems require complex thinking and balanced wisdom. This can only be achieved when the blinding light of our anger is turned down.

The Psalmist's wisdom urges us to exercise restraint in the face of anger and emotional agitation. Refraining from anger does not imply denying or dismissing feelings. Instead, it calls for us to experience the feeling without allowing it to dictate our actions. Similarly, the caution against fretting encourages us not to be persistently anxious or worried. The passage could be summarized as follows: "When anger arises, resist its influence on your thoughts and actions; likewise, avoid dwelling in a perpetual state of worry." Anger is often a distraction that diverts us from seeing the higher path set out for us in the Bible.

God offers an alternative approach for managing these intense emotions. The Apostle James puts it this way, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for human anger cannot produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20). Reacting in anger is always the wrong thing to do. It will never produce the right results. We are invited by Jesus to involve Him in our struggles with anxiety and anger. He nudges us to see our anger for what it is, and bring our feelings to Him for support and direction.

There is one who benefits greatly from your resentments and outbursts of anger: the devil. Paul teaches us “...don't sin by letting anger control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” (Eph. 4:26-27). Because the human heart was not designed to marinate in anger and fear, we are told to forsake it. When we surrender our anger to the Lord we make room for Him to defend, protect, and vindicate us. The Holy Spirit gives us this wisdom in Romans 12:19, “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the LORD.” Our angry reactions always get in the way of God. He has a way of both vindicating us and dealing justly with those who offend - as long as we turn our feelings over to Him and pray for those who’ve wounded us. The reason given is brilliantly clear in Psalm 37:8, “it only causes us harm”.

During your time with the Lord today, reflect on what leads you away from Jesus' peace by provoking intense anger and fear. In your journal, answer this question: “What do I feel angry about?” As you honestly write your responses, do not hold back or try to soften what comes up. Then answer this question: “What am I worried about?”

When you have finished, write a simple prayer to our heavenly Father, asking Him to align your heart with His way and take your anger and fear. Ask Him to help you respond to your feelings in a way that is not destructive to yourself or others. Then watch how His Spirit will guide you throughout this day.

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