Do you ever get angry? What sort of things stir or ignite your anger?
ANGER : a strong feeling of displeasure and usually of antagonism.
: to make (someone) angry.
ANGRY : feeling or showing anger.
: indicative of or proceeding from anger.
I am sharing with you today from a very personal vantage point about anger and being angry. I do not have any special skills or have a PhD in behavioral science; I only have my own trials and errors along with some sound guidance from learned mentors in my life. I also have the very best teacher and friend I’ve ever known that is my constant hope and help, God!
I think it is a fair statement to say we have all experienced feelings of anger or been angry at someone or something at least once in our lives. What do you remember about that experience? Do you remember if anyone gave you advice about the issue? Was it encouragement or was it more of a case of reverse psychology. I’m guessing at least one person said this to you, “Calm down, it’s not that big of a deal!” Or something very similar to those words. I don’t know about anyone else but when I get worked up the last thing I want to do is calm down! Any ideas as to why this is the case? I would like to make a point of distinction here about the differences in getting angry verses always being angry. I am not speaking about individuals who are perpetually angry and exhibit violence, that is an entirely different scenario than what I am wanting to talk about. I’m simply saying that in life things happen that stir up feelings of anger and manifest itself through our senses and we become angry. But why? Have you ever ask yourself, “why does this bother me?” Maybe we should also ask ourselves, “should this bother me?” These questions can only be answered when we are completely honest with ourselves, only then will we begin to understand who we are at our very core. As we learn and grow from infancy through childhood, adolescence into adulthood our experiences inform us and help develop our moral compass, if you will. We learn right from wrong, differences in good and bad, all these things help to formulate our values. Most of us form our values with little self direction or discretion, we simply began to mimic the behaviors that we observed and learned from others as we grew because we trusted those individuals. It’s a natural instinct (I believe that is within our being) to foster and protect others. If you’re a parent, you probably get this and want only the best for your child/children. Even if you’re not a parent, there’s probably at least one or two people you’ve met in your life that you wanted to protect, keep safe or just look out for. Now imagine something or someone wanted to harm that person (?) how do you react? *That precise feeling is our “anger” and our response action/reaction is us being “angry.”
Let’s get back to the “why” behind the anger. I had someone who I trust and look up to, tell me that our anger is often in direct relationship to something we care about. It makes complete sense, people who march in protest do so because they feel strongly about the issue. I don’t think many people would volunteer to do so just for the “fun” of it. People who are compassionate about causes will make sacrifices to be heard and recognized. Sometimes people get angry because they feel like they have been cheated or taken advantage of, while others see injustice and suffering around them and they must act no matter how insignificant it might seem. I am purposely not mentioning any specific situations or causes because that is not what God has placed upon my heart, I believe the message that God gave me to share is awareness of the “why” of anger and angry. Which is way different from liking or disliking something. This can all become very deep and philosophical but that’s not my intention. We all have the right to have our own convictions about life and of the decisions we make. As a Christian, and a follower of Jesus Christ, I am able to worship as I choose to and with that comes the responsibility that others also have that same right. When I am able to enjoy and participate in activities of my own choosing then I must extend that same right to others that do so differently. This is sometimes difficult to understand and be a part of but I can only pursue my hopes and dreams when everyone else has the same opportunities that I do.
I personally cannot make anyone worship and believe in God as I do. Nor would I try, what I can do is live a life that others might see and that can open opportunities for conversations and introduce people to the God I serve. Living and teaching through our actions is often better than any words we speak.
I’m not happy all the time, I’m not sad all the time, sometimes I am in a hurry and other times I just rest, it’s called being human and our humanity can be the cruelest of all things. God did not call me to be perfect, He calls me to be in relationship with Him. To talk with Him daily and to share my hopes, dreams, fears, accomplishments and aspirations, and yes, even my mistakes and disappointments, sharing all of me with Him.
God calls us to Himself.
We are uniquely created by Him.
We each have a purpose and plan.
Hebrews 9:15
“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance —now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”
1 Peter 5:10
“And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.”
Jude 1:1-2
“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.”
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Psalm 139:13
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
In closing, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my blog and if you’re a follower, a second THANK YOU! May you see and/or feel God in your life today! Amen.
HOPE SEEKER 
Thanks for following my blog; you are very kind.
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