Dealing With Anger

Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.” Matthew 26:52 

This took place at the arrest of Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus had just prayed to the Father…let this cup pass from me...or if it can’t, let Your will be done. (See Matthew 26:42, Luke 22:42) I would have thought that Jesus had reason to be angry…but He wasn’t. He knew that he was headed for the cross—but He didn’t fight the Roman soldiers who came to arrest Him. He went with them and insisted that the disciples not attack His captors, nor that the disciples be arrested, too. He went peacefully. What an example for us. We should be peaceful—avoiding anger. Where are you most likely to get angry? Home, work, on the road? Consider how Jesus would react to such a situation and temper your feelings. Can you put away that sword and find a better way to deal with your anger? 

 

Training Tip – Put away the sword is what Jesus told His disciples. He didn’t say to bury it—so don’t bury your anger. Keeping anger inside of us usually just makes it worse—physically, emotionally and spiritually. Not dealing with anger can result in bitterness that can make a person physically sick—like with ulcers or digestive problems. Emotionally, rage can result from pent up anger and that can make relationships even more unstable. Anger and bitterness will build a wall between us and God so that our relationship with Him is impaired and He won’t hear our prayers. Find a way that is healthy to release anger. Go over the list that you made with your family and see what healthy ways you all found to release your anger—put it away. 

Some unhealthy ways of dealing with anger include – from pbskids.org website:

            Hurting ourselves emotionally or physically – having a negative attitude or throwing tantrums

            Withdrawing from life – having a hard time making or keeping friends

            Taking risks    

            Overeating

Taking drugs or alcohol

Hurting others physically or emotionally – insulting or attacking them or taking revenge

Some healthy and positive ways of dealing with anger include:

            Thinking it out – relax and let your mind find a good way to solve the problem

            Talk it out – with family member, friend, counselor, mentor or the person you are mad at

            Write it out – journal it

            Let off steam – go somewhere alone and just scream or hit your pillow

            Do something creative – paint or play some music

            Relax

            Get active – run, walk, dance, exercise, play ball and let go of the anger

            Find the source of the anger and a fix –

-          like help with schoolwork

-          time and space to yourself

-          conflict resolution

Teaching your children to understand and deal with anger will help them to develop good emotional habits and good Christian character.    

Lord Jesus, thank you for Your example to us—put away the sword. Help us to see issues in our lives that make us angry and deal with them rather than bury them.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.