(By: Norm Rasmussen)

Really upset and hurt? Maybe upset with God even?

The following poem is written by: Michael H. Imhof. It is taken from his devotional book: Walking With God. You can read more of his poems on our Daily Devotional. The editorial thoughts that follow are those of the Director of Precious Testimonies.

Anger is not necessarily sin.

Uncontrolled it is sinful and can cause devastation.

Controlled it can be used for good,

and diverted to zeal while avoiding transgression.

The Bible says a fool loses his temper,

but a wise man holds it back.

An angry man will stir up strife,

with quite a knack.

Uncontrolled anger is to be put away,

for it will show deeds of the flesh.

Uncontrolled anger counteracts peace,

and with it will not mesh.

Uncontrolled anger shatters relationships,

and can lead to frustration and depression.

Peace must be sought after bouts of uncontrolled anger,

to preclude unreconciliation.

A believer given to uncontrolled anger demonstrates,

that he is in fact out of control,

and that he is focusing on things passing in time,

while playing a foolish and sinful role.

A believer thus shows that he is reacting,

and that his rights are not yielded to Christ.

He is defending himself,

which can place him in a selfish light.

Uncontrolled anger must be confronted,

it must not be excused.

It is sin and not pleasing to God,

and will cause one to ultimately lose.

Confess it as sin,

and renew your mind as you put on the new man.

Don't let emotions or feelings activate your responses,

and learn to think in the ways of God as you take your stand.

Editorial Note: Many things stir in my spirit over the above Devotional and I feel to share some of my thoughts on the matter, in hopes that it might help someone. Wise counselors have stated that conservatively, upwards of 75% of the core reason why people are locked up in prison is because of unresolved anger ... usually starting way back in their childhood. Unresolved anger triggers resentment; resentment will ultimately trigger bitterness if left unresolved. Bitterness will then almost always transform itself into some form of rebellion or other. "Other" can mean rage and destruction of unimaginable proportions.

Children rebel against their parents usually because of one or more times where they have become angry at their parent(s), and it is left unresolved. Marriages often come apart because unresolved anger in either one and usually both people in the marriage does not get resolved, when infidelity is not involved (I realize spousal abuse, pornography and other issues can also be reasons and possible grounds for divorce. No condemnation or guilt trips here, okay?).

God tells us from the Word that every time we allow anger to control us -- over-react to it -- leave it unresolved ... we most likely will be giving the devil the legal right to influence us (as in ATTACK; DEVOUR) in one way or another if we are not careful. Where is this found in God's Word? Ephesians 4:26 (NKJV):

Be angry, and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.

In context, God is especially addressing married couples in the above scripture.

When Jesus made the statement that if we don't forgive those we are angry at - forgive those who have hurt us (even though they may have sinned against us, such as in adultery and/or fornication, which of course are grounds for a divorce even though forgiveness has been executed ... as I understand God's Word on the matter) - we are extremely vulnerable in letting anger inside us go unresolved toward that person and/or situation. Wise men and women of God have learned to NEVER be controlled by anger; rather, by the help of Christ, deal with it as the Holy Spirit leads us to deal with it so we do NOT allow it to adversely control and/or affect us. Sometimes we need to speak to the person who has offended us to get our anger resolved, asking their forgiveness for any part we played in the conflict, and telling them we are truly sorry. Other times the Holy Spirit will simply lead us to pray for our enemy, to kindle our anger. Some people who have offended us may be dead, or we don't know how to contact them if they are alive.

Almost always, if we truly are trying to learn how to control our anger, rather than allowing it to control US ... we need to quickly go to God and tell Him about our situation ... ask Him for guidance in the matter ... be willing to confess any wrongdoing on our part in the matter and asking His forgiveness, and then lay it at the foot of the Cross and let God handle the situation. If there is more we need to do, He'll communicate it somehow to us.

Anger left unchecked demands to be our OWN "judge" and "enforcer of our verdict," which almost always is VENGEANCE! Sometimes, rather than striking out against the one who has offended and hurt us ... we take it inside us, leading to bouts of depression and in extreme cases, it can even lead to suicide. Sickness and disease of every kind can often be traced back to suppressed bitterness, resentment, unresolved anger either toward God, others, employers, and/or situations.

Multitudes hold onto to various forms of anger toward God and don't even realize it until the Holy Spirit is allowed to help them deal with it. Satan is constantly looking for ways to get individuals angry with God in some form or fashion. The younger the better.

When we give an individual and/or situation (which may be your employer, or the government, for example) to Jesus at the foot of the Cross, (which is an act of our will to forgive someone to dissolve our anger) ... we are saying to God and to the devil that we refuse to be the "judge," and "vindicator of justice," but rather ... let THE Judge deal with the issue as He determines. God has promised in His Word that He will execute proper justice in all matters at the proper time. His time is never our time, but His time is always the RIGHT time, isn't it? (Say: "Yes!" Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr ... please laugh - it helps).

I hope you pray and ponder what has been said here, if you have had problems with anger in the past and you realize how vulnerable you still are to it, if the right situation pops up. If you want a clear demonstration of how Jesus controlled His anger, when it seemed like on many occasions He had every right to defend Himself and lash out ... He always controlled His anger, rather than anger controlling Him by His over-reaction to it. It will impart great hope to you, and the courage to seek God for help in mastering anger, instead of it ever-mastering and controlling you.

Forgiving those who hurt us ... offend us - anger us - betray us ... is so important that God evidently saw it necessary to make this very sobering statement of truth and fact:

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." -- Mathew 6:14-15 NKJV

PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU SHARE THE BEST NEWS GOD HAS FOR EVERY PERSON BECAUSE...

JESUS DID IT! and...

YOU ARE SO GREATLY NEEDED!

Remember: All that we do in this life comes back to our God-given purpose which is to serve and glorify God. The money and assets we accumulate, the fame and power we've attained or seek to attain - all of the things of this nature will one day pass away, but those lives of others we impact for Jesus Christ will last for eternity, and we will be rewarded for the part we helped play by impacting those lives ... for eternity. (Matthew 6:19-20 is our assurance)