A Moment With Godনমুনা

ANGER: AN EMOTION TO CONTROL

An emotion if not controlled, can control us. It has destroyed homes, relationships and left a mark of bitterness. Sometimes we are unable to give a soft answer; we match anger with anger, tone with tone. The one who is louder is not always the winner.

Many things can provoke us to anger - people at home, delays in our life, situations, people who we work with. Very often our anger is because the self is affected. But when we give a soft answer it is so different. (Proverbs 25:15). A soft answer is never a sign of weakness. When we do not react in anger, the person and the situation might remain but we will not be the same.

Some people are angry with anything or everyone. Whatever we say upsets them. It is important for us to stand at the foot of the Cross and ask ourselves why we get angry with people and with situations. The Lord endured pain, ridicule and separation from His loved ones, yet, he had words of forgiveness: Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

What does anger do?

• Robs us of our peace
• Disfigures our face (Cain's countenance had fallen)
• Isolates us from others
• Make us snap at every situation
• Makes us difficult to live with

If people everywhere do not understand us, the problem is not with the people. It is with us. We can give excuses for our anger saying it is genetic. But the Bible does not accept any excuse.

What should we do? How can we overcome anger?

• Let us thank God for all situations. Situations need not happen the way we want them to happen.
• Accept that people are different. If the entire world is like us, it will be a boring place to live in. Thank God there is variety in the world - different people from whom we can learn.
• Remember, we are the offended one because we carry this bitterness and anger throughout the day.
• Expression of anger leaves a deep impression of negativism about us in others.
• Leave our anger in the control and hands of God rather than using it as an excuse.

Others cannot change but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Even if someone hurts us or gets on our nerves, it is always good to thank God for the opportunity to be like Christ. Being like Him in tough situations is difficult. If we are struggling with this, it is good to look at the Cross and look at the way Jesus handled it. We are not dealing with perfect people or situations. But, we have a perfect God who will lead us towards perfection. Let there be forgiveness and love. Let us be pleasant people who will pass on this love to one another.

For every minute we are angry, we lose sixty seconds of happiness.