How does one control anger?
Psalm 30:5…For his anger is but for a moment, his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Really?
Yes, Really!
If we could only get past that one moment when we are out of control, then we would have the world by the tail. We erupt, briefly, perhaps longer, but then our thoughts subside to more pastoral times. What is there about us that causes us to lose control?
Words spoken cannot be retrieved. Have you ever imagined that perhaps by controlling your anger, you are controlling the anger of others? We have spoken many times about being servants to everyone and with this mentality it is our lot in life to buffer the thoughts of others into submission, defying anger and promoting thoughts that lead to control. As a child, I have felt the surging blood coming from my feet to the top of my head in a millisecond and I was out of control.
How can we step back?
The prophet Joel tells us to…Return to the Lord, your G__, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. King Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 7:8-9…Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; the patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit. Do not be quick to anger, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
Boy, was I just hit in the head with a sledgehammer!!!
We are all searching for meaning and with this we often ask about our own intelligence and just exactly what are our own capabilities. Part of our transformation is, surprise surprise, giving of ourselves to others in all walks of life and situations, in the spirit of love and compassion. Perhaps in those times when we are momentarily out of control, we should look at what brought us to this place in time.
Do your fellow employees cause you anger because of their lack of interest? Does your immediate boss almost drive you to drink because of lack of planning? Does your superior cause you to want to put your fist through the wall because of unwillingness to make a difficult decision? Is your wife spending too much money? Is your husband not working as he should and does he constantly have to have more “toys” to make him feel important in the eyes of onlookers? Do your children immediately respond to your orders in due fashion or do you have to repeat yourself over and over again? Are you the fabulously handsome or beautiful creature who the moment you get behind the wheel of a car becomes the ugliest of human beings?
How many excuses do we have concerning our anger?
Is it really, come on now be honest, someone else’s fault?
Do the small things annoy you to the point of cursing? Did you lose the card game by one point? Did your football team lose by one touchdown or a field goal? Did your favorite tennis player make a bad shot and cost him or her the game? Did your team not make the playoffs? Is your spouse constantly late without ever WANTING to change? Is there just never enough money? Are your children’s grades not what they should be? Why is the Sunday driver out on a Tuesday morning? Did you have to go to a dinner and spend time with boring people because it was your boss? Did you really want to have to spend time drinking with a client who is never going to buy your product? Did someone bang your new car and not leave a note at the shopping center? Was a report due and you had to partner with another person who is always late and guess what, that person is the bosses’ nephew? Are you sick and tired of the same old stories told by the same person at the same event each year, i.e., Thanksgiving or Christmas with the family?
The list is endless.
Although Ephesians is credited to the Apostle Paul, there are doubts among scholars concerning this writing; however, the words are profound, no matter the author. Ephesians 4:26…Be angy, but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. You may have thoughts but they must be controlled. You may have uncontrollable irritations that cause words to erupt and like smoke, disappear into thin air; however, look closely in the mirror to digest what is happening at that exact moment and know that with one deep breath, your giving of yourself to others will change your life forever.
Blessings.