ANGER

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

and do not give the devil a foothold.” – Ephesians 4:26-27

Perhaps your life hasn’t worked out the way you had planned…behind you may be the wreckage of broken dreams and dashed hopes. Expectations may have been crushed, perhaps you are dealing with financial troubles; perhaps there have been betrayals from family members or best friends that have left you reeling, even from those you trusted the most and esteemed highly. Perhaps even your own body has let you down, where you are battling severe illness or disease.

Maybe you are in the throes of dealing with the death of a parent, a child, a spouse, your grief so severe that it takes every ounce of strength just to take the next breath…
It is human nature to point our finger, to want to make a target-to blame something or someone and sometimes when that target is difficult to zero in on we focus our anger on that special Someone – God Himself, especially when it becomes really apparent that we have absolutely no control.

God.

The supreme and magnificent ruler of the universe.

Our Father, whose very Name is hallowed.

The One who sent His own Son to rescue us from death and eternal damnation.

And yet we may find ourselves struggling with a secret anger, a rage that seeks to, seemingly cannot help but to blame.

So we ask questions like:

“Where were you, God?”

“If you really loved me how could you allow something like this to happen to me?”

“I have dedicated my life to you, and yet I can barely pay my basic bills, while the evil flourish and prosper…why?”

“How much longer will I have to endure these hardships?”

“Why me, God?”

We may think that we have the right to ask these questions, some of us may think that the Creator owes us,

His creations, an answer.

He does not.

Instead we must work hard to dispell anger, otherwise the enemy will get a foothold and the result is always  terrible. I believe that this is where the spiritual disease known as “hardening of the heart” begins.

Anger grieves the Holy Spirit of God, and since He is a gentleman He will not, cannot dwell in an angry vessel.

 So beloved, if this is you- if anger is hiding deep inside, let’s resolve to get rid of it- all bitterness, rage and anger, which are breeding grounds for every form of malice. (Eph.4:31)

Then what should we do?

We do what He commanded us to- to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, (Deut.6:5, Matt. 22:37, Luke 10:27) and trust in Him with all our heart (Prov.3:5-6), and keep on thanking Him, (1Thess 5:16-18) even when –especially when- we have no earthly idea why…

He really does work everything out for our good!  (Romans 8:28)