Raging Fire

How many of us have been angry with someone before or have let a temper flare up with someone you love? If you are human, you can probably answer yes to this question. It is hard to hold back a temper sometimes, especially if it is with someone close to you. We all get frustrated, have devastating days, and have had many days where we just lose our cool. It can really tear up the people around us when we display rage. Believe me, anger can destroy relationships. It can lead us farther away from the ones we love, and most important, it can lead us away from our love and relationship with God. Anger is just an emotion. However, anger is not an emotion that should be expressed outwardly with anger. It is an emotion that should be expressed with love, kindness, and compassion.

First, since anger is an emotion, I should probably distinguish between controlled and uncontrolled anger. Anger is not something that is bad to express as long as it is controlled. Uncontrolled anger is what can hurt ourselves, our relationships with friends and family, and our relationships with God. Some people might not agree with me that there is a difference between controlled and uncontrolled anger, but that is okay. There is no right or wrong answer to topics as subjective as this one. Uncontrolled anger is like a raging fire. It just grows and grows. Once it starts, it is hard to stop from spreading. One little instance of anger can spread to more instances. Personally, anger is not an easy thing to control. I know it is a challenge and a struggle that must be overcome. Anger is like a fire because it gets hotter and hotter. It can kill, destroy, and tear down relationships. There is no easy fix to uncontrolled anger, but to get rid of that anger on the inside, one must let God take control.

The best place to find advice about life is the Bible. There is one passage that speaks pretty clearly about how to handle anger in life situations. From Ephesians 4:29-32:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

According to this passage, God wants us to get rid of all forms of anger. He wants us to cleanse ourselves and turn that anger over to Him. Instead of unwrapping a temper, we should respond to one another with kindness and compassion. We should forgive one another because Christ forgave each one of us when He laid down his life to save this world from sin. Just as Christ forgave, we should forgive and follow in His footsteps. When we follow in his footsteps, we will see our relationship with Jesus grow, and in turn, we will develop good, healthy relationships with the people around us.

In the end, God wants us to build each other up with words of encouragement and kindness. He does not want to see relationships get torn apart like a raging fire. The journey through life can and will be filled with challenges such as anger and rage, but when our hearts are on fire and set apart for God, our lives can see drastic change.