In these times, I feel and see anger all around and even inside of me. I can hardly watch the news without yelling at the TV set. The bad times seem to be getting worse, and anger seems to be having a field day with those who watch politicians and liars that are even playing with our lives and livelihoods concerning COVID, the economy, giving our terrorists enemies billions of dollars’ worth of weapons, and other such atrocities. However, anger can be controlled, or it can lead to our own loss and even destruction.
Anger is a feeling of extreme hostility, rage, and wanting to fight back according to the definition in Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus that I own.
Often, it is a response that we have when we are assaulted or wronged either mentally or physically.
The Bible clearly tells us to not get angry and that patience and trust in God is better than anger:
“7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.” Psalm 37:7-8.
There is much evidence that crafty politicians are rich due to their deviance, but we should not look at others prosperity, the riches they have, or the efficiency of how others plans have succeeded and be bothered, angry, or even jealous of them. Do not think that I am against hard work and prosperity. I believe it is OK to be rich if you earned it legally.
Often, I see hidden agendas drive people to do horrible things, even in God’s church.
The Bible also says that anger will not help you live the kind of life that you should live:
“19 [a]So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20.
We can often have our own agendas and even nations have rage and anger that leads to useless stances against God. Psalm 2 tells our rulers to not be angry and that Yahweh is still in charge and that we should place our trust in Him:
“2 Why do the [a]nations [b]rage,
And the people plot a [c]vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed,[d] saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 “Yet I have [e]set My King
[f]On My holy hill of Zion.”
7 “I will declare the [g]decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall [h]break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”
10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 [i]Kiss the Son, lest [j]He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” Psalm 2
The world’s methods of dealing with anger is seen in the news and in our entertainment such as movies.
It is about people lashing out in rage to include jealousy, revenge, or even hatred because someone has worked and prospered and has riches because of their work and efficiency. I hear politicians do this and say evil against others just because they have money or fame but do not believe as politicians think they should. I see in Westerns and other movies people vent on revenge and vengeance on those who wronged them.
Sometimes personally, the wrong is only perceived but is seen through our memory of bad events that we perceive the same thing going to happen again even though the threat is not real.
The world teaches in movies and in many circumstances to react with rage. I am not speaking about protecting yourself such as when your life or someone’s life is in danger. At that time, we should do what we have to do to survive. But I am saying the world’s methods of lashing out with anger with the physical or mental weapons is contrary to what the Bible teaches.
We can hurt a person both physically or mentally or both by not controlling our anger. Physical weapons of anger are guns, knives, blunt objects, fists, and other forms of weapons used in violence. Mental weapons can be cutting someone down in public, gossip, rumors, and even speaking badly behind a person’s back.
But the Bible teaches us about the ultimate weapons against anger:
“10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [a]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [b]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:10-20
Anger sometimes consumes us because we are seeing our country eroding away with greedy politicians and those with evil intentions. Let us remember, the most powerful weapons against our own anger and against other’s anger toward us are spiritual and include prayer, faith, love, patience, and forgiveness.
Rage can only lead to guilt and harm toward others- even an unkind word as we know can hurt for years.
We must remember that rage and anger lead to violence and harm. It can lead to grief and vengeance, and often the punishment we give does not fit the crime. The emotion of anger turned within ourselves makes us depressed and bitter.
Yet, we are to deal with our anger through our Messiah and look at anger as a spiritual problem to be solved with spiritual weapons. Prayer will change things and us and place us into the correct perspective. Speaking with others who are children of the faith will help to distinguish the real problem and many times it is something within ourselves such as our history of hurts that causes certain reactions.
A very wise man was asked how he made such good decisions. The man said, by experience.
The person asked the wise man how he got the needed experience to make the good decisions.
The wise man said by making bad decisions.
Personally, I have made enough bad decisions while I was angry. Now, I want to pray, cool down, think before I act, speak with my wife or someone I can trust before I get the wrong idea. Also, I want to forgive and not allow my rage to last through the day.
Anger from hurt can develop and control us for years. Past harms can make us think something is real that is causing us to lash out at others or to go off in our own depressing areas.
The spiritual weapons of faith, love, prayer, forgiveness, and patience are much harder to hold sometimes, but they are much more effective and are better for everyone involved. They also foster the feelings that lead to peace and not violence. They are the best weapons for us in a world of hurt and anxiety; however, the world often does not use these, and that is why we have so many problems with anger in the world today.
Evil seems to be everywhere, but we can stand on the fact that our Father in Heaven and our Messiah can overcome all the evil of this world. We just celebrated our Feast of Trumpets- the day that represents our Messiah’s return to the earth to set up His wonderful Kingdom. Let us look forward to that day, set aside our anger concerning those who want to harm and control us, and have faith that against Divine Elohim, the anger of this world can never win.
May Divine Elohim bless all of you and keep you healthy and safe.
Pastor Nick
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