Wednesday, October 10, 2012 -- Dealing With Anger -- Stored Anger

Anger is an involuntary reaction to a displeasing situation or event.  It may be considered a normal reaction to an offence if it is limited to an initial emotion.  It is when anger is stored that it becomes dangerous.  Stored anger causes us to be resentful and hostile with the urge to “get even”.  The Bible advises us “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry”. (Ephesians 4:26)  Inner turmoil is the result of not obeying this advice.

Unresolved displeasing situations or events cause us to store anger, which, if not dealt with, deteriorates through time into frustration, anxiety, hatred, despair, rage, hopelessness.  Feelings like these, carried forward from childhood into adulthood, find unhealthy expression in our daily lives.  Stored anger may cause us to try controlling each situation we encounter in order that we may be in a position to hurt others before they hurt us. 

When we live with stored anger we often find ourselves entering into unhealthy relationships, such as, people pleasing or other addictive lifestyles, as we seek to fill an underlying desire to “fit in.".  Unfortunately all the baggage we have not dealt with accompanies us into these relationships and activities.  Before long the anger inside us will erupt and spew, causing the other person frustration and pain.  Addictions we thought would help us feel better draw us further into the dark side of hopelessness.

At some point we realize we need help to deal with our innermost being.  When we come to know Jesus and accept salvation through His death on the cross we become new creations.  The old goes and a new life comes.  We are challenged by God to demonstrate this transformation by acting and reacting in new ways. “ … now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.  Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (Colossians 3:8-10)  Only Jesus has the solution to my stored anger.  Will I come to Him for this free gift?