FamilyFire

I grew up with the idea that anger was a bad thing. I understood that it was sinful to be angry with God. But the Bible never tells us that anger is bad. As an adult reading the psalms, I came to understand the healthiness of expressing anger constructively. King David was considered a man after God's own heart and yet he told God how angry, frustrated, and disappointed he was. What a blessing that we can take these emotions to God and let him bring healing to our emotional burdens.

Our emotions are part of the way God designed us. Emotions are not right and wrong. Having emotions is a normal part of being human. Anger is an expression of experiencing hurt or pain. Anger can be very righteous and motivating when we channel it correctly. We can be angry about injustice in the world and that anger can motivate us to care for those who are marginalized.

Yet anger can be dangerous if it goes unchecked. The Bible says, "In your anger do not sin." Allowing the seed of anger to fester within us is giving the devil a foothold in our relationships. We should not lash out in anger, but instead try to understand the other person's point of view. If we wallow in anger by giving our spouses the silent treatment, we are also building walls between us and our spouses. Lashing out or retreating into our anger are both unconstructive.

It is important to discuss the emotions that we are experiencing. We should talk with our spouses about the pain we feel. This can happen only when we acknowledge our feelings and choose to discuss them in a positive way. King David set a good example by bringing those emotions to God. He poured out his heart and processed those feelings of anger and allowed God to heal the hurt underneath those feelings. How comfortable are you in talking to God in this way? Praying the psalms might be a great starting point!

I once allowed anger and resentment to build walls that separated me from God. I wish I had realized sooner that there is healing and restoration in bringing my feelings to God. He so wants to know our hearts, even when they are full of pain. Don't waste days allowing anger to rule your life! Let God carry your pain and show you constructive ways to channel it.