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Gods Peace, when
Anger Rises

James 1:19 “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God”
Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse”
Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger”

   When engulfed with anger, it can be hard to fall into restful sleep. You will be lying in bed stewing over, your mind constantly playing over and over the events that have left you in anger. It could have been something that happened just today, or your co-workers criticism, or your child's wild behaviour, or a church member bringing unwanted gossip in church. It could have happened in your past (years ago) but continually comes to the fore front of your mind. Her unkind words, His refusal to apologise, the betrayal you never saw coming, the wounds you fear will never heal. Those are things to forgive, and hard things to let go.

   While your day my be filled with so much busyness there is no time to properly contemplate these difficult circumstances, your lying in bed are often not that way. All you have is yourself, your pillow, and your thoughts. And when your thoughts turn to these provoking situations, they can lead to long nights of restlessness. Instead of peacefully dreaming, you’re troubled by ways you were wronged, mistreated, and deceived. Not surprisingly, this doesn't lead to peaceful, bliss-filled sleep. Instead, your heart fills a little hard and desire for revenge keeps knocking, holding you and your thoughts in a vice like grip.

What would it look like to let all that pent

up anger go?

   All that resentment that pulses through your veins and makes your face flushed with your frustration is really controlling you(and only you), but not the person who wronged you, not the friend who who deceived you, not the spouse who betrayed you. In short, the anger you hold and nurse and keep on simmering is now impacting you most fervently. It’s started to steal your body of rest and festering in the deepest parts of your soul. We must stay always mindful. As the enemy feeds off of your anger your feeling. But there is good news: the Lord is able to rescue you from his grip.

   In Psalm 37:8, the Psalmist said it like this “Refrain from anger and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself: it tends only to evil” [ESV]. Harbouring unforgiveness is not only harmful for you, it’s also exhausting. Right here and right now, vow to make a change in your thinking, even only a small change. As your reading this cry aloud to God for His help to over come this battle your in. Asking Him for His supernatural strength to breath deeply, inhaling forgiveness and exhaling bitterness. Imagine His loving arms around you, letting you know He understands this fretting your going through. This kind of change doesn’t happen over night. But just for this night, in these quiet moments, you can you can take a small step toward change & cleansing, purifying, rest giving change.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me take a step toward healing and forgiveness. Remind me of the everlasting patience you hold, and help me regard others with the same gracious, loving, spirit-filled as yourself.