“Don’t tell God you have a big problem. Tell your problem you have a big God. “(Joyce Meyer)
I wish I could deny this character flaw
(among the many) in myself.
Unfortunately, too many people have witnessed it (or experienced it)
this challenge I struggle with often. “What is it?” you ask. I tend to allow
minor inconveniences inside me to fester, and become raging fires of
anger. Usually when I blow up (like a volcano
full of hot lava), the innocent bystander that finally gets the brunt of my
displeasure is not the same individual I am furious with.
You don’t always have to react with the first
thing that comes to your mind (to transfer to your mouth). Think it over first
before saying something you might regret later. Give grace because you may not
know the full story behind the situation. In the end, you basically have three
options to choose from (as I see it). Not every small thing is worth the energy it takes for a full-blown furious meltdown. On a scale from 1 to 5 with one being the least agitated and 5 being extremely irritated, where does your challenge stand. This is a useful, simple way to figure out just how angry you should get over the issue.
You can make things right with that
individual by going only to them to correct the situation. (As strange as it
may sound, I hate confrontation.) Your next option is to emotionally burn that
individual to a crisp with your anger. I
consider this last option the more civilized of the other two. I’ve done it a
lot, and it doesn’t work well as a default setting. You cut that person out of
your life by communicating with them not at all (or as little as possible). From
experience, this is a lonely choice. You begin to see everyone as expendable if
they upset you enough. Which choice will you make?
Psalm 37:8 (ICB) says: Don’t get angry. Don’t be upset. It only leads to
trouble. On the positive
side, anger can have the ability to lead to needed change in a nation, a community,
or an individual. Negatively, anger can lead to broken relationships,
destruction, and sometimes murder. Will you choose to live your life as a peace
maker or a peace breaker? Only you can make that choice.[i]
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