April 12

Slave to Rage?

Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.  ––Ephesians 4:26-27 msg

Rage (ˈrāj) – noun

1 a : violent and uncontrolled anger

   b : a fit of violent wrath

2 : violent action (as of wind or sea)

3 : an intense feeling : passion

So it’s just you and me, right? Because I have a confession to make: Sometimes I really do experience rage toward people and situations in life. I’m not talking about irritated, miffed, or irked. I mean really upset, to the point where you can feel the anger deep in your bones.

Think you have your anger under control? Let’s test that. Think about pandemic vaccines for a few seconds. (I will wait.) Any theories or opinions about Covid-19 vaccines that made you really angry (whether you were “for” or “against” the vaccines)? Or January 6? Or the 2020 election?

All of us have at least a couple of hot button issues. We respond like Pavlov’s dog when someone brings them up—especially if they don’t share our same viewpoint. We get triggered in our midbrain (the seat of our emotions) and a neurological fireworks show goes off. Anger rises and we react—sometimes not in very godly or healthy ways. Maybe you were raised to stuff down those types of emotions, or lived in a home where all you heard was anger and yelling. Either way, the question is, “Are you enslaved by those strong emotional reactions?”

For God’s man, it’s a common battle. So how can we flip the script so instead of responding to a topic or trigger with midbrain rage, we respond with prefrontal cortex higher thinking? Four steps:

1. Acknowledge the problem—that’s half the battle.
2. Ask the Lord to give you a plan to overcome your anger issues.
3. Seek accountability with a trusted brother, your spouse, or your pastoral team.
4. If it persists, get professional help through a therapist or caring professional.

We all get mad sometimes, and the Word says that when our anger is aimed at the right things—e.g., the mistreatment of children, sexism, racism—it can lead to biblical, positive change. But if you feel trapped or otherwise defeated by anger issues, surrender the problem at the altar and seek help. You will not regret it!

Father, at times my anger gets the better of me. Help me to both recognize my trigger points and find healing for them. I don’t want to remain trapped by my anger.