Anger. It permeates our society. Stories of road rage, domestic abuse, and child abuse will all lead back to issues with anger, among a few other things.
Understanding and Handling Anger
Biblically, the things we struggle with take the form of emotional and spiritual struggles. There is an emotion of anger, and there is a spirit of anger. The emotion of anger, if left unchecked, can root itself into a spirit of anger, which is the type of thing that leads to extremely destructive behavior. Outbursts of anger can cause problems in your family, at work, and in your personal relationships. I often wonder how many people are sitting in jail cells because, for a split second, they couldn’t control their anger.
God gives us emotions, and anger is one of them. The emotion of anger makes us upset about injustices in the world, but it comes with structure.
It is important to address anger before it becomes a stronghold. If you get consumed by it, you won’t be able to sleep because it’s all you’ll think about.
In Ephesians 4:26, the Apostle Paul’s instructions say: “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
I have often heard this scripture taught that you are not to go to bed angry – that you should settle the issue with the offender. I’m not sure that’s exactly the best way to interpret this scripture, though it’s sometimes true. What if you are angry because someone owes you an apology that you are not going to get? Instead, you are required to deal with yourself, not necessarily someone else. The Lord is looking for you to have the ability to let go, not the other person. I believe that is a more accurate interpretation of not letting the sun go down while you are still angry. It doesn’t mean you have to apologize to anyone. If someone cut you off on the road, you certainly can’t apologize to them, but if you are still angry about it, you need to deal with it.
Paul is not saying anger is wrong; he is saying to check your emotions so you don’t sin. In other words, when someone makes you angry, you don’t cuss them out or plot your retribution. Instead, you are required to deal with yourself, not necessarily someone else.
Genesis 4 tells the story of Cain and Abel bringing their offerings before God. Abel brought his best, and Cain brought some of his offerings. God looked favorably on Abel, but not on Cain. This upset Cain.
“Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Gen 4:6-7 NIV)
Cain did not master his sin of anger. After this conversation with God, he took it out on Abel by killing him. Anger can walk hand in hand with bitterness, unforgiveness, and jealousy, to name a few. Anger can turn to rage, and rage can cause people to lash out by hitting or even killing another.
Generations of Anger
Do you see anger in your family? Were your parents, grandparents, or aunts and uncles angry people? If so, you will need to deal with that as well. When I was growing up, I had the most patient mother in the world. I didn’t seem to follow in her footsteps. She used to tell me I needed patience. I would tell her that I swear I was born this way.
While having that discussion one day, someone I know in the education field said it was not possible to be born that way and that personality forms around 2 to 3 years of age, so I must have been around someone angry. My mom was also there, and I asked her how long I had been like this. She told me that when I was a toddler, I would build things by stacking blocks. If the blocks wouldn’t stay put or fell over, I would get angry enough to pick one up and throw it. That is not good. Anger runs in my father’s family. And they can trace it back to my great-grandparents in the 1800s.
Years later, while praying about my lack of patience, I heard the Spirit of God say that patience wasn’t my problem; anger was. By this time in life, I understood that spirits can follow generational lines, and it had come from Generations past. (Breaking Family Cycles) I started asking questions about prior generations. As it turns out, anger runs in my father’s family. And they can trace it back to my great-grandparents in the 1800s.
Breaking Free
The answer is the same as in my previous “Breaking Free” blogs. You’ll need to make your lists, identify issues, look at past generations, find scriptures, and address these things. As I mentioned, anger is generally not a standalone issue. It can attach to rage, which makes you throw things when you get angry; it can attach to bitterness, frustration, and more. Once you identify and repent for things, you should start to see a shift in your life. Do I get angry still? Of course. It’s an emotion. But I handle it with myself before I go to bed so the foothold doesn’t reestablish in my life.
Until next time under the palm, be blessed!
