“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) For many Christians, this command from the Bible is the hardest of all. How do you keep from getting angry? You can’t. That’s not the problem. Anger is often a good and healthy emotion that causes good things to happen. How do you get rid of anger? Resolve it and get on with your life, but how, that’s the problem.
Anger is the root of many physical and emotional sicknesses and the barrier to spiritual productivity. It must not be allowed to stay around and ruin your life.
There was a scene in the movie “Forrest Gump” where Jenny comes home to the place where she was sexually abused as a child. The anger swells in her as she looks at the old, abandoned, dilapidated house. The anger takes over and she begins to throw rocks at the house. Finally, she is exhausted and stops. Forrest observes, “sometimes there just aren’t enough rocks”.
Unresolved anger keeps us screaming for more rocks. Contentment will never be found as long as the anger is throwing rocks. By God’s grace we need to accept the invitation of 1 Peter 5:7 “cast all your cares (angers) upon him, for he cares for you.”
Jesus absorbed all of the anger of the world when he died on the cross as our substitute. Give him your anger. You don’t need revenge, you need to be rid of the load of anger.
In this kind of experience, God’s power will allow us to lay down rocks of anger and not need to reach for more. James 1:19 counsels, “everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” Give it up now!
“God, grant us the wisdom to understand why you tell us never to go to
sleep angry. Then give us the determination to obey, if it takes all night. Amen”
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