Read Proverbs Chapter 19.
“A person with intense anger bears the penalty; if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again.” Proverbs 19:19
Anger, in its original form means “poison or rage”. That is exactly what anger is, it’s poison. I know because it is something I have struggled with my entire life. It is something I still struggle with today. Paul talks about the the “thorn in his flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7 NIV). He prayed three times to have it removed. God responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV). Anger is my thorn in the flesh.
Anger, at its deepest root is a form of pride. It’s because you aren’t getting what you think you deserve. When I was a child, my Dad was in and out of the hospital my entire life. Seeing the ambulance at our house was not an uncommon occurrence. He had frozen both of his feet the winter after I was born. He was a coal miner. He had been working out in the cold. As a result, he had gangrene set in, which resulted in the immediate loss of his toes, and eventually his entire leg. That started my anger issues.
When he died at 16, it only spurred on my anger. I was angry because I didn’t have a regular dad. I was angry because all of my friends did. I felt like I deserved more than I what I had received. I felt God had slighted me. Now, as an adult, I realize how blessed I was to even have a father. One who loved and adored me.
But as an angry child I couldn’t see that. I did bear the penalty. I let my anger stop me from enjoying life. My jealousy towards others caused me to miss all of the blessings that were in front of me. God has rescued me from my anger, and He does have to do it over and over again. His grace is sufficient for me, His power made perfect in my weakness.
Don’t let anger steal the joy from your life. In the heat of the moment, walk away. Take time to cool down, seek God and let His grace be sufficient for you. It’s taken me a lifetime to learn this lesson This world is only temporary. Whatever you’re angry at, it too shall pass. Just give it time. But be assured, God will rescue again and again from it. His power will be made perfect in your weakness.
