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Putting your anger into words and pouring it forth is a bad idea—right? Yes, it usually is, especially when it spills on other people and they have to defend themselves or wade through hostile words.

But God isn't fragile. As long as you maintain a respectful tone, God is willing and more than able to be the recipient of your anger. For example, the psalmist, in great frustration, asked hard questions (10:1) and brooded over people's wickedness (10:2-5), but he also cared deeply for God's causes: These enemies of God could not understand his teachings (10:5). Yearning for truth, the psalmist became upset with the wicked who said that God couldn't see (10:11). But by the end he expressed confidence in God's faithfulness.

The next time you're angry, consider turning to this psalm and paraphrasing it to fit your situation. What good would that do? You'd be addressing your anger to the One most capable of doing something constructive about your situation—God. Pouring forth these emotions builds intimacy with God and transforms your raw emotion into faith. (See also Numbers 20:1-13; Job 19; Habakkuk 1:2-5.)

LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble; you will prepare their heart; you will cause your ear to hear. Psalm 10:17

How can your anger become constructive, rather than destructive?

Copyright 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.

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