Anger

It is a powerful feeling, one that will make you act wrathful, anger is something that we experience from time to time, but don't always control.  Before long someone is called a name, pushed to rage back, cries are heard, and once good friends are no more.

What do you do when you are angry?  How do you resist the temptation to hurt someone back who might have purposely offended you?

When I thought of moments in my life when I was tested and passed was due to self-control and God of course--his Holy Spirit was indeed at work.  Choosing not to react to the accuser takes a lot of energy and self-determination to respond appropriately and not make a scene.

I actually felt better avoiding the temptation to involve my emotions in arguments. Sure, I thought about the "What if I..." scenarios afterward, but what would that have accomplished?  Nothing more than an upset stomach and a headache.  People rarely, if ever, change their ways no matter how nice or not-so nice you treat them.  So working myself up into a fit would have solved nothing!

Times when I failed spiritual trials and permitted anger to win rather than use it for good (more on that later), I was the one who ended up feeling bad.  Those dark emotions and behaviors just weren't worth it!  Once you let anger enslave you, you become distant from God and oh, that is a dark place to be--all alone with no one you can truly feel emotionally safe with.

Now when using anger for good I simply made it the motivation I need to complete projects.  I typically have a long list of things I plan to accomplish prior to any business, personal or family issues that might arise, I am already focused on planned activities.  Therefore, the unexpected pain becomes a driving force for me to go back to what I was doing, my comforts, and ignore all the rest.
When you have lived on this planet long enough, you learn to establish safety nets for yourself when trouble comes so that you don't lose it during seasons of trials and droughts.  In addition to connecting with your Creator, what are your emotional and physical safety nets that shield you from life's difficulties?

Angry people are a distraction, a hindrance and come with other emotions like jealousy, resentfulness, and unforgiveness. The minute you give place to their mean-spiritedness you are debilitated for a time in getting your needs met.  You lose focus and become wrapped in their ills. Connecting with angry people long-term is fruitless. Their anger is only beneficial when it gives us all a jolt to get a plan or a purpose underway.  Outside of that highly emotional people are mentally and physically draining.

So the next time you are angry about something, use it for good.  Let anger give you the push you need to stop excuse-making, procrastinating and doing other unproductive things. Chances are God set up the challenging situation to get you to do better personally, professionally or both.

God bless.

Nicholl maintains this blog and is the author of Know Your Enemy:The Christian's Critic and other books.