Anger Control

Think back to a time when someone said or did something, and you just blew up, spewing spittle everywhere as you ranted and raved about how this person always does <insert irritating act here> and you're not going to put up with it any more. Do you remember how you felt afterward, when you realized that what you threw a tantrum over was actually pretty minor?

We have to realize that it is very easy to lose control once we allow anger to have its way. How many relationships were irretrievably damaged because someone said something in anger that they later regretted? I'm sure that many of the domestic abuse cases start out as someone's unrestrained anger, too.

What Causes Your Anger?

You become angry when you dislike the way someone responds to you, to something you did or said, or to someone you care for. In other words, your anger is usually about you.

Now, lest you get the idea that I am endorsing some kind of namby pamby, never-get-mad approach, let me make it clear that the Bible tells us to get angry if we have to, but not to hold onto a grudge and let it cause us to sin. Many of the worst effects of anger are not caused by a single incident, but by a series of incidents over a period of time.

In other words, the most damaging kinds of violent incidents, the embarassing screaming matches, the "say the most hurtful thing you can think of" situations are all based on unforgiveness—refusing to let go of anger and to forgive the other party—as well as a strong focus on your own feelings.

What About Godly Anger?

Again, there are times when you should be angry, when you are being dishonest if you refuse to allow yourself to feel the anger that naturally wells up inside of you. You would not be human if you did not ever get angry. And guess what? You would not be godly, either.

Godly people should get angry over things that grieve the heart of our loving, eternal, all-powerful Monarch. It does not mean that we grab a chair and bust it over someone's head, but we should be angry at times. And that includes anger about those who teach sinful conduct in the guise of godliness. Some may know what they are doing and are doing it intentionally, while others are deceived by our mutual adversary, the unseen fount of evil who runs amok in our world.

Here's an easy way to have a strong clue whether your particular anger is godly or selfish. Is this anger about you and your feelings? Does it cause you to desire to read scripture and pray or are you more eager to crack some heads open?

Conclusion

I know you already know this, but God paid a very high price for you, redeeming you from the eternal consequences of your own offenses. Therefore, you really do not even have a right to be angry at another human for doing something to you. In comparison, what you're going through is minor. Keep this in mind and maybe you won't have another embarrassing blow up.