Pondering Anger

“When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then…They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.” Nehemiah 5:6, 8

One of the most difficult emotions to harness is the emotion of anger. It is one of the most powerful emotions that will instantly produce action. Most of the time, this action is to the detriment of the relationship. In the Bible, there are nearly 500 references to anger with 350 being the anger of the LORD. We must be careful to align our anger with what the Bible says about the appropriateness of anger. ‘Justified anger is purposeful and beneficial to someone who is being mistreated, hurt, or taken advantage of. Justified anger always seeks to bring a situation or circumstance in line with God’s commandments and to further His kingdom here on earth.’ Charles Stanley, Surviving in an Angry World p. 34

The verse above gives us a spiritual principle when our anger arises… ‘pondering them in our mind.’ We should not respond to our anger in immediacy and thoughtlessness. All anger should be checked at the door of our hearts. Anger should be prayed upon, lifted to God and held up for His judgment and justice. He will guide us into action if any action is required at all. Stanley gives us wonderful boundaries against which to measure our anger.

Disciplined – It does not rage like an out-of-control wildfire. For anger to have positive results, it must have boundaries and be reined in. It must be subjected to discipline.

Focused – It is directed toward a singular purpose.

Short-lived – It produces good results and it ends when positive goals have been achieved.

Within the boundaries of God’s commandments and His justice – Good anger, or righteous indignation, must always be rooted in what God calls justice.

When anger surfaces, take it to the LORD so that your anger will not result in sin. (Eph. 4:26) Anger is an emotion that is God given to recognize when God’s children are being treated unfairly or unjustly. It is what we do with our anger that can result in sin. When our anger is laid upon the altar of God, He will determine if it is justified anger and whether His will is to use us in this situation. We must trust that if we are not led to move forward in our emotions that God will justify the situation in both His own timing and manner.

“Do not be eager in your hearts to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools.” Eccl. 7:9