Week 3
Anger
Be angry and do not sin…
Ephesians 4:26
Anger is an emotion underneath where feelings of fear, pain and sadness often lie. When we see the Burma military dropping bombs and killing innocent civilians, a natural experience is to feel sad, hurt, and scared, which inevitably can lead to anger. Anger as a feeling in itself is not a sin. But, what we do with it can lead to sin or good deeds. In anger, we can curse and produce hate speech against others, including those trying to do good, and in the process cause division. On the other hand, anger can serve as fuel for the desire and efforts for things to be made right. We can speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves and mobilize support for their cause. Next time you feel angry, practice the STOP strategy. Stop for a moment and acknowledge your feeling of anger. Take a few breaths to regulate your body and center yourself. Observe different emotions that are showing up with anger. Proceed cautiously asking yourself, “How can I use the anger I am experiencing in ways that please God?”
Gracious God, thank you for the opportunity to use the emotion of anger to glorify You. Please help us not to sin in anger, but to transform it as a source of energy for a positive change.
In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen