Greetings Dear Reader,
How often do we hear someone claim or advise someone else
that there is a right to anger? First, let
me be clear that we do have a right to feel angry. As we discussed earlier, there are times when
it is imperative to BE ANGRY. In the
same breath, however, we are to SIN NOT with our anger.
I want to ponder then how I deal with my right to anger in a way that puts me in the right position with the Father. After Jesus, my closest friend in the Bible is Job. I want to be like and at the same time, I do not. The lesson I am remembering from him is that if anyone had the right to be angry as a human, it is Job. Without recounting his entire story, let us review his situation:
God declares that he is the most righteous man in all the
earth.
He loses all of his children, possessions, and his health.
His wife suggests that he “curse God and die” instead of keeping his integrity.
His friends make the journey to falsely accuse him of some secret evil.
So, I would think that Job has a right to be angry. Whether you believe this story or not (I do),
it is clear that Job has not been treated well by Satan, his wife, and his
friends. His response, however,
confounds me. He says to his wife when
she challenges him to abandon his faith and principles, "’ You're talking like a godless fool. We accept
the good that God gives us. Shouldn't we also accept the bad?’ Through all this Job's lips did
not utter one sinful word.”
I could not do that.
I have uttered sinful words when I stubbed my toe. I believe that Job must have felt anger at
some point. His words to his wife and
friends sound angry when I read them. We
have to be clear though that in his anger he did not “utter one sinful word.” Few of us will suffer as much as Job
did. This means that we can refuse to do
wrong just because we suffer and are angry about it.
If you are thinking that I do not understand your situation,
then you are correct. I do know what it
is like to lose all that I have, lose a child, and have my wife curse me. The difference is that I am not nearly as faithful
as is Job. I did sin in my anger and
that makes all the difference. That is
where this good man and I parted ways.
I must resolve to be like him and refuse to lose my faith
over loss and pain. When I am grieved,
sick, or bereft, I must cling to my principles.
If someone offers me offense, I must cling to faith and not my anger or
pride. Instead of me prattling on about
it, give a listen to the song below, Dear Reader. I think we can agree that part of responding
to our own anger is remembering that even the darkest things are allowed by the
Father to draw us closer to him. I love
you and want you to find peace in your pain.
Job
Suite – Michael Card
(I realize this is long but it is well worth the
listen)
Blameless and upright, a fearer of God
A man truly righteous, no pious facade
One about whom God was accustomed to boast
And so one whom Satan desired the most
One day the accuser came breathing out lies
"It's Your holy handouts, his faithfulness buys"
In one desperate day, his possessions were lost
His children all killed in one raw holocaust
His children all killed in one raw holocaust
And yet through it all; through the tears and pain
He worshiped his God Found no reason to blame
Once more the Deceiver denounced and decried
"It's skin for skin, and hide for hide,
Strike down his flesh and he'll surely deny
And confess that his praying has all been a lie."
"Very well, take him," the Holy One sighed
But you must spare his life, my son shall not die
So, Job was afflicted with terrible sores
Sat down in the ashes to wait for the Lord
Sat down in the ashes to wait for the Lord
And yet through it all; through the tears and pain
He worshiped his God Found no reason to blame
A throne of ashes
A crown of pain
A sovereign of sorrow
A mournful reign
May the day of my birth be remembered no more
May darkness and shadow come and claim it once more
Why did I not perish on that dreadful day?
And sleep now where kings and counselors lay
What I dreaded most has now come upon me
Why is light given those in misery?
I loathe my own life, so my tears fall like rain
As I find that there is no peace in my pain
Lord, send a Comforter now to my door
So that this terror will frighten no more
A Counselor between us, to come bear my oath
Someone who could lay a hand on us both
These friends of mine are no comfort to me
So deafly they listen, so blindly they see
Their words and their doctrine, they all sound so true
The problem is Lord, they're all wrong about you!
I know my Advocate waits upon high
My Witness in heaven sees the tears that I cry
A true intercessor who will condescend
To plead with God as a man pleads for his friend
If I've been untrue, if I've robbed the poor
If I'm without guilt, what am I suffering for?
God would not crush me for some secret sin
And though He slay me still I'll trust in Him
I know now that my Redeemer's alive
He'll stand on this earth on the day He arrives
And though my own body by then is no more
Yet in my flesh I know, I'll see the Lord
I'll see the Lord,
I'll see the Lord
Who is it that darkens my counsel?
Who speaks empty words without knowledge?
Brace yourself up like a man
And answer me now, if you can
Can you put on glory and splendor?
What's the way to the home of the light?
Does your voice sound like the thunder?
Are you not afraid?
Where were you when earth's foundations were laid?
Who gave the heart its wisdom;
The mind its desire to know?
Can you bind the stars; raise your voice to the clouds?
Did you make the eagle proud?
Will the ox spend the night by your manger?
Did you let the wild donkey go free?
Can you take leviathan home as a pet?
If you merely touched him, you'd never forget
Who is it that darkens my counsel?
Who speaks empty words without knowledge?
Brace yourself up like a man
And answer me now, if you can
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
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“I am unworthy, how can I reply? There's nothing that you
cannot do. You are the storm that calmed my soul. I place my hand over my mouth.” Job Suite – Michael Card
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