Slow.
I’ve never been accused of going slowly. Yet, “slow” is often a godly trait, as in the case of becoming angry. In James 1:19, being “slow to become angry” is a mark of spiritual maturity. However, some of us have a mistaken view of anger, which can manifest in many different forms. MANY SHADES OF ANGER There are many types of anger. Here are ten, on a continuum, from the slight anger of being "annoyed" to all-out "livid" rage:
Do I speak aloud when I am angry? Do I keep quiet but sin in my heart against someone? Even if I am just annoyed, it is what I do with that annoyance that has the biggest impact on my spiritual condition. SHADES OF ANNOYANCE Here are some shades of slight anger that I normally don’t think of as “anger.” They include: Ruffled, disturbed, disgruntled, discontented, agitated, upset, provoked, offended, chafed, bothered, peeved, vexed, exasperated, irked, perturbed, and displeased. THE GOOD NEWS The good news is that anger is not necessarily sin. It is what we do with our anger that matters. Here is a scripture that is comforting for those who get easily annoyed: “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ... “ (Ephesians 4:26 NIV) So, if you are easily annoyed, irritated, or aggravated, it is not necessarily a sin. “What are we doing with that anger?” is the question to answer. THE SOLUTION There is a solution for an angry feeling. The short answer for me is to “give it to God.” When I have feelings of anger, I can try to deal with them on my own in my flesh, or I can give them to God and trust Him with the outcome. I can safely express my feelings to God, who always understands how I feel and will always calm me down and comfort me if I let Him. My flesh does not handle anger well. However, the Holy Spirit inside of me does. I just need to yield to the pull of God and resist the pull of my sinful nature. And, when I do sin, I must confess it quickly to God and then make amends with the person who experienced my anger. Thank God for this wonderful solution that Christ has given to us who follow Him. Be “slow” to become angry by staying connected to Christ. And I’ll remind myself and you that “The more I pray, the better my day!” It’s a saying worth remembering and practicing daily. For me, my daily quiet time is irreplaceable as a spiritual growth tool and means to connect with Christ. Every day, I spend an hour in a quiet time of prayer, meditation on His Word, and journaling. This helps me to start my day in the right way. This is not a panacea for anger issues, but it certainly helps a lot. CONCLUSION This “quick, slow, slow” dance instruction from the Lord applies in every situation. “Quick, Slow, Slow; “Quick, Slow, Slow.” Christ Jesus is teaching me how to dance through life. He wants us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. May it be so. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. February 06, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Comments are closed.
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