Responding to Anger ~ Be Angry

Greetings Dear Reader,

I wish to be very clear that in learning to respond to anger, we are not forbidden to feel angry.  In truth, there are things about which we must feel anger if we are to see them clearly.  Our difficulty in responding to our own anger is to predetermine how we will make sure that we only respond and do not react.

The way to peace is never through reactionary anger.  When we feel justifiable anger over an issue there are some things that must be true for our anger to be righteous.  First, we must consider if our anger is justified.  All feelings get their genesis in our thoughts.  If I am easily offended or outraged by things I cannot control, my anger is misplaced no matter if the issue is genuinely offensive or wrong.  Even the deepest vilest offense is not always worthy of anger.

After we filter if anger is justified, we may find that it is.  Then comes our response.  Too often we react instead of responding.  We spit out a retort, crush a can, or post a nasty tirade.  We react with anger instead of love.  The command to BE ANGRY is followed by the conditional clause to SIN NOT.  In our anger, which may be imperative we must not violate love, kindness, and compassion.  Justified anger will always leave room for love, mercy, and grace.  That is how the Father treats us.

We must take a breath.  Allow the anger to have its rightful life but refuse to speak until we have made the move from anger to love and peace.  We see the wrong side of this in most political posts.  We spit vitriol at our opposition that promotes hatred of their position and often hatred for them as well.  The most indecent, heinous person we know is to be treated with love.  This includes Speaker Pelosi and President Trump.  If you follow Christ, you must love them both equally.

It is not wrong to speak against issues that we find are wrong.  It is wrong to do so in anger and hatred.  It is further wrong and leaves our good in the dust to attack other humans because of political, social, or religious differences.  We are supposed to be peacemakers; children of God no matter what the situation.  It is our requirement as followers of the Son.  So, to review, we must only have anger that is justified, we must respond, not react, and we must respond in love and grace.

But wait, there is more.  You see, Dear Reader, we must not keep our anger.  It becomes rancid overnight like room temperature seafood.  It spoils and churns inside us to give place to our ultimate enemy.  I may have to forgive and seek peace every day with things I have carried for too long.  I may be the one who needs forgiveness for hanging on to my anger.  Anger must end with the day.  My personal practice is to refuse to go to sleep until I have dealt with my anger.  Until the last couple of years, I have had my share of sleepless nights because I had anger to process and put to bed.

Anger may be justified but sufficient to the day is the fuel it needs.  The only way to be angry and not do wrong is to use it as fuel to heat our hearts to love, grace, and mercy.  Christ is our example in this at every turn.  If we follow the right use of anger, it will push us to deeper love and faith, Dear Reader.   If we respond with that deep love and faith, we will become unstoppable.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Every human story is part of the great story that leads to the Father getting everything back to Good.

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:
#aramisthorn
Support Page on Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn
Novels: From My Publisher or on Amazon            
Web Page:  www.aramisthorn.com
Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com
Facebook     
Twitter        
Medium         
Instagram 
BLOG Archive:  http://aramisthorn.blogspot.com/ 

Anger is to spark as Rage is to wildfire   Be ye angry and sin not.