I'm So Angry!
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Anger. You feel it, sometimes intensely. Maybe it comes when you've been mistreated or threatened. Sometimes it boils up and pours out with hurtful words or harmful actions. So how do you handle anger in ways that are healthy and not harmful? Check out what three students learned from God's Word.
Watch Your Words
I said, "I will watch my way and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth … " (Psalm 39:1-3)
Do you ever get so mad at someone you just have to yell at 'em? Me too.
Sometimes, when someone really makes me angry, I go beyond yelling. I swear and tell that person exactly what I think of them.
You'd think it would make me feel better to get all that rage out. But it doesn't. I feel guilty for not controlling my temper, or for hurting the person's feelings, or for doing something I know I shouldn't have done.
Even though I know swearing and yelling at other people is wrong, I think the part I really need to work on is controlling my anger in the first place. God can help me do that.
Instead of getting angry about things I really can't change, I can ask God to change me. I know God can help me be a calmer person. And when I'm not so angry, I probably won't swear as much.
—Chris
What About You?
- What things really make you angry?
- Think of three things you can do to calm yourself down when you're angry.
- Pray that God will show you when your anger is a result of selfishness. Ask him to help you love others and put them before yourself.
Forget Revenge
May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. (1 Samuel 24:12)
When some guys from school smashed my car window and stole my guitar, CD player and all my CDs, fighting back was exactly what I wanted to do. My friends even told me to find those guys and beat them up. It sure seemed like they deserved it!
In chapter 24 of 1 Samuel, I know David must have been tempted to get Saul back for his evil deeds. After all, Saul had gathered 3,000 men to hunt David down—and this wasn't the first time he had tried to kill David. But David knew God wanted him to forgive Saul, and that's exactly what he did.
I was really angry when those guys at school trashed my car and took my things. But I didn't try to beat them up. I even promised not to press charges as long as they returned my stuff. It's up to God—not us—to do what he wants with people who do evil. Our job is to forgive.
—Chip
What About You?
- When has someone done something mean to you? How did you respond? How should you have responded?
- Is there someone you need to forgive? Even if that person hasn't apologized to you, offer him or her your forgiveness as soon as you can.
- Ask God to help you forgive people in the same way he has forgiven you.
When Is Anger OK?
In the temple courts [Jesus] found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. (John 2:14-15)
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