Does anger accomplish anything? I guess from an emotional standpoint, anger could be considered a stress reliever. On the other hand it could actually enhance stress. Usually anger is an emotional reaction to undesired circumstances. Meaning that if something happens to us that we don’t like, we react in a sometimes hostile, loud and aggressive manner.
Let’s break this reaction down to more simple terms by asking a few questions. Has an angry response helped my mental and physical well being in any way? Some people may answer that question with a yes or no. The people who answered yes might say that it relieved stress or made them feel better. That good feeling usually creates fear or a negative reaction in someone else or perhaps it is a satisfaction of revenge in some way. In anyway you look at it, anger is not a godly or christian value to have. Anger goes against the fruits of the spirit. “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” Galatians 5:22. Which of these fits in with the response of anger. It doesn’t look like any of them. In fact it looks like every one of the fruits of the spirit is in direct opposition of anger.
Revenge is usually a by product of anger and this is in opposition to our seeking forgiveness in others. Anger usually creates more stress, tension and anxiousness which promotes more transgressions in hostility, resentment, envy, jealousy and so on.
How did my anger change the preceding event or circumstance? It can’t, so it seems counterproductive to get upset over something that happened that we can not change. Anger does not teach our children how to deal with unfortunate circumstances. We must show our children how to deal with these trials that happen often, and are unavoidable in most instances, in a loving, kind, and patient manner.
The key to helping us overcome anger, is to ask God in prayer for strength, patience and the ability to quickly forgive ourselves and others. He is in control. We can not change the past nor foresee the future. Our first reaction should be in a righteous, loving and kind manner. You will see this brings about a greater sense of relief from tension or stress.
Have a Blessed day!
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