How To Move Through Suffering And Come Back StrongerSample

Donna Gibbs:  How to Move Through Suffering and Come Back Stronger Devotional Day 5

The Gift of Anger

Scripture: Ephesians 4:26

Your life may sometimes seem similar to a stagnant creek. You may feel as if you have lost the joy and zeal for life you once had. You desperately need something that can come in and clean up the creek that is your life, and anger may be part of the solution.

You may initially think of anger as a sinful emotion and feel guilty about feeling angry.  But let’s look at anger from another perspective. Scripture doesn’t identify anger as sin. Ephesians 4:26 tells us that anger is something that can lead to sin if we allow it to control us. Anger is actually the most productive emotion we feel, which is also why it can be challenging to manage. When used inappropriately, anger will destroy our relationships.

But when used righteously, anger can be the perfect fuel for our resilience. That’s right! God, who made us in His image, created us with the capacity to feel anger. God created within us an emotion that can lead us out of our oppression. So let’s appropriately direct this powerful emotion toward whatever is keeping us stuck, whether it is destructive theology, destructive thinking, or a destructive coping skill. 

Think about it: Are you carrying not only the weight of your initial suffering but also the suffering that comes from being stuck? It is dangerous to be stuck. It is not as simple as prolonging pain. Being stuck is a direct invitation to additional pain. Being stuck costs you. Being stuck robs you. Being stuck should make you angry! 

God can use anger to clear the stagnant creeks of our lives. I challenge you, then, to allow appropriately directed anger to build some momentum that can be used to help you begin bouncing back from the hurts that have kept you stuck. 

Anger can help you replace that all-too-common “Why?” with a new and refreshing “What now?” Ask yourself, What do I need to do to make sure I survive this storm? What do I need to learn to ensure that I thrive in this struggle? How will I build resilience? 

If you are feeling anger today, use it as momentum to get unstuck!

How has anger been a part of your journey of suffering? In what ways has it helped you to make changes in your life? What changes might it help you make now?