The Wake of Anger Behind You
Look behind you. Is there a wake of broken relationships that keeps growing? Is there anyone who has experienced your rage and is still fighting to move on? How has anger impacted your family? How has anger impacted your co-workers, and friends?
Proverbs 14:29 People with understanding control their anger, but a hot temper shows great foolishness.
When we lose our temper, everyone around us gets hurt. Parents might be able to make their children obey them through fear and intimidation, but the outcome will be broken relationships because the children are afraid and won’t trust a parent who can erupt at any time. If the goal is just obedience, anger can control others, but at what cost? The result of anger is bitterness and alienation. The people we love won’t be able to get away from us fast or far enough if we can’t find a way to deal with the rage inside of us.
Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
We’ve all seen people do really stupid things because they were angry. Anger can be relationally, emotionally, mentally, and physically costly. It breeds mistrust and fear and can cause decades of damage in people’s lives. Many people live in fear and can’t cope with simple challenges.
Ephesians 4:31-32 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Hurt people, hurt other people if they don’t forgive those who’ve wronged them and move forward. If you refuse to forgive someone, you will find yourself becoming more and more like that person who hurt you. How can you deal with your anger so that it does not cause agony for you or the people around you? Forgive those who have wronged you.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through these scriptures?
