Number 20:11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
Anger doesn’t solve anything. It builds nothing, but it can destroy everything. – Thomas S. Monson
Regret cannot recover what anger has destroyed. Anger is triggered by fear, frustration or repeated irritation. When we become angry our body muscles tense and neurotransmitter chemicals are released in the brain causing us to experience a burst of energy lasting up to several minutes. The excess energy-rush explodes as ‘mean words’ or ‘actions’ harming others or ourselves. A study has found that the risk is three times higher of having a stroke from a blood clot or bleeding in the brain during the two hours after an angry outburst. In short, anger, rage and frenzy shorten lifespan and embitter life.
The Bible timeline says 1407 BC, just a year before Moses died, he got into a fit of rage at Meribah. The Lord God told him to speak to the rock but besieged by anger he struck the rock, not once but twice! Moses was overwhelmed by the nagging of the ungrateful congregation for about 39 years and he finally lost it. His disobedience stopped him from entering the Promised Land. God was not harsh with His judgment on Moses. The standards of a leader are much higher than the congregation (James 3:3); there will be more souls damaged by the disobedience of a leader than those blessed by their obedience.
Many people excuse their ‘anger tantrums’ by quoting Jesus driving out the money leaders from the temple. Not all anger is righteous anger. Jesus did not make a whip and beat them up because they insulted Him and accused Him falsely. The righteous anger of God surged when they blemished the House of God with rituals and used religion to feed their greed.
Anger management plays a vital part in emotional stability:
1. Wronged: Hoarding offense stirs unrighteous anger. “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured” – Mark Twain. Unresolved anger overtime poisons the soul. The life of Jesus is an epitome of love and forgiveness. Pray for those who hurt you and the surging anger will automatically subside and vanish. Antidote to anger is forgiveness.
2. Walk-away: Walk-away when inundated with anger. Don’t spurt out hurtful words when goaded. Don’t impetuously reply to a rude email. “You cannot see reflection in boiling water; you cannot see the truth when you are angry”. If you revisit the issue after a nap or a walk your perspective on the issue would have changed completely. Don’t react, respond.
3. Wait: Understand the issue thoroughly before you judge or criticize. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry (James 1:19). Most times our anger is a response to personal offense. God does not condone unrighteous anger. Wait before retorting.
When we learn the art of managing the emotion of anger, we have mastered emotional stability.
James 1:20 For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, help me to be quick to listen to your heartbeat, slow to blurt out thoughts and slow to be irritated or angry. Amen
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