GRRRRR! I’m mad!
Well, I’m not really, at least not at the moment, but today, I want to talk about anger.
When was the last time you got heated?
What really sets you off?
How hot do you get when your switch gets flipped?
Are you a screamer?
Do you boil internally?
Are you a break-stuff kind of a person?
Do you go silent or withdraw?
I’ve been a crier in my younger years and in the latter, I’ve mostly been a yeller and overly aggressive (and mostly just toward my boys).
Maybe you’re not an angry person typically or maybe you never really get too fired up. Good for you. But anger is one of the basic emotions hard wired into our system, so everyone gets or feels mad at some point and on occasion.
In the movie, Inside Out, anger is a hot headed fiery red guy who has flames come out his head when he feels injustice. And he is responsible for all the teeth gritting and grinding, visible and verbal outrages, and finds himself always on edge, ready for a fight.
He’s an entertaining character to say the least.
But what do we do with this fireball in our head? How do we appropriately regulate this emotional landmine and choose when to diffuse and when it’s ok to detonate, or decide if it is alright to lose it in the first place?
As we grow and develop this guy shows his ugly head in all sorts of ways and in lots of situations. Part of maturing is learning to keep him in check so we don’t throw our food, throw a fit, or throw fiery darts at others. but he isn’t dead and doesn’t go away and we must deal with him.
What’s scripture say about it?
Proverbs 14:17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
Proverbs 29:11 Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
Ephesians 4:26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
And finally, look at the fruit the Holy Spirit produces in a person – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
So, a couple key things that stand out for us to consider with our anger:
First, God gave us this emotion so it can’t be all bad.
Second, it’s ok to be angry, but in our anger, we must not sin.
Third, often, what makes us angry are things we hate about ourselves.
Fourth, when we’re angry, we should work to discover the source as well as the response.
Looking at scripture (and my own outbursts), anger, when not controlled, only leads to foolishness, friction, and failures. Tempered responses and directed anger lead to positive change and wholeness of life!
What place does anger have in your life?
What role does it play?
Does it have control or do you own it?
Stay Frosty and Keep Chilled.
#HotHead
#JuneGloom
#Feelings
#RestoringWholenessOfLife
Brett
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