Let All Bitterness be Put Away from You

Anger can be an active or a passive emotion. In the case of an “active” emotion the angry person “lashes out” verbally or physically at an intended target whether justified or not. When anger is a “passive” emotion it is charterized by silent sulking, passive-aggressive behavior or hostility, tension and rage.

Anger creates adrenaline surges and increased heart beat, which when sustained and combined will create tremendous stress on our bodies causing various serious and often fatal diseases, most notable of which is hypertension or High Blood Pressure. High Blood Pressure is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, particularly in the Caribbean. The often fatal result of someone who is constantly in anger or rage should be enough for persons to make a concerted effort to control or manage their anger. However if the thought of an early death is not enough then the thought of constant sleepless nights, Shortness of breath; Heart palpitations; Trembling, Dulled senses, Constipation; Insecurity; Low self-esteem; Self-loathing; Depression; and Anxiety should be motivation for an almost anger free lifestyle. Staying angry is DEADLY dangerous to your life and health. Anger also creates a rift between you and your loved ones, drives away your friends, turns your home into a cold, unhappy place, and creates a gulf between you and God.

The world's philosophy advocates several "systems" for dealing with long-term anger. One popular philosophy says, "Don't get mad. GET EVEN!" "Revenge is sweet," so they say, but not sweet at all! Revenge will land you in the dark prison of your own guilt and self-disgust, eating away at your insides like a cancer. Whether or not that prison has bars of steel, you will not escape it! Another world philosophy advocates ventilating your anger. Tell people off! Bang the wall! Go into the closet; close the door, scream to the top of your lungs! "Let it out," they say, "and it will go away."

But your deep-seated anger will not run from your tantrums. Yes, your body may enjoy a momentary rush of adrenaline, and the subsequent feeling of release, but any such enjoyment is only momentary. The anger remains unabated and tantrums are habit­forming. Worse yet, witnesses to your tantrums will react with fear, disgust, pity, or their own anger. You are worse off than before!

Talk it out, your anger can sometimes be resolved by talking about the problem with the person who wronged you. By communicating, you might find you have misinterpreted what the other person said or did to you. The other person might even ask for your forgiveness. If either of these fortunate circumstances occurs, your anger may be eliminated. Ephesians 4: 31-32 states, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted. Forgive one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.”

Kai Williams