HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE
Brenda Lineberger
Today’s Scripture: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1, ESV
Theme: Even when anger makes you want to scream, quiet down. Seek understanding rather than getting louder to be understood.
COMPLICATED
Anger has many components: pride, jealousy, envy, bitterness, unforgiveness, and entitlement. We are all susceptible to anger, but we do not have to be slaves to it. Psalm 37:8 (NKJV) says, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret---it only causes harm.”
BONFIRE
Anger often starts like a small flame—a painful secret, broken trust, betrayal, or abuse. If left undealt with, it can smolder for years, growing into a raging fire that spreads throughout your life, totally out of control. It burns bridges, wastes precious time, destroys relationships, and even affects generations.
Anger is one of many weapons the enemy uses, alongside jealousy, envy, pride, and unforgiveness. It was anger and jealousy that led to the first recorded murder. Cain was jealous of Abel and angry with God, and it cost him dearly.
FIREWORKS
This kind of anger is sparked by everyday moments: being cut off in traffic, someone cuts in line, or the person in the 12-item express lane with far more than 12 items. Maybe we don’t say anything---but instead of letting it go, we stuff it inside and let it fester. Before long, the day is ruined. Then that anger comes home, and the whole family feels the effects. Maybe that anger comes out when we snap at someone, and now they’re hurt or angry, too. But what if the person who seemed rude or self-serving was having the worst day of their life? Maybe they just received a devastating diagnosis, had a heated argument with a spouse, lost a job, or are carrying a burden we’ll never see.
SOLUTION
Give grace, because hurt people hurt people.
Whether our anger looks like a bonfire or fireworks, the solution is the same: the Living Water and the Blood of Christ. They can extinguish any kind of anger, as many times as you need. Use them often; they never run out. We only have a limited amount of time on this earth. Jesus died so that we could live in His abundant peace and joy, not so we would give it away to unforgiveness, bitterness, and anger.
I watched someone I love live their entire life bound up by the bonfire of anger. Forgiveness did finally come, but time ran out before it could truly be enjoyed. It reminds me of the thief crucified beside Christ: forgiven, yet with no time left to live in the joy and peace of knowing Jesus. Even so, I am deeply grateful that my loved one now has peace and always will.
Make It Personal: This may sound strange, but when something triggers anger in you, be still, be quiet, then thank God for the moment. Ask Him, what does He want to teach you. Is it patience? Compassion? Gentleness? Forgiveness? Thank Him for the opportunity to practice the humility of Jesus Christ.
Do you know someone who is wasting precious time holding onto hurt, anger, and unforgiveness – maybe it is you? Are you willing to seek wisdom and understanding from God’s Word and, once and for all, commit to controlling the destructive out-of-control anger? God loves you, and He believes you are worthy of His grace.
Pray: Lord, thank You for loving us. Thank You for teaching us how to be humble and to forgive one another, just as You have forgiven us. We can be stubborn people and often forget that life is better when we give grace. Please forgive us, Lord. Help us Lord to remember the humility of Christ and follow His example.
Read: Isaiah 43:18-19; Proverbs 29:22; Matthew 6:14-15; Genesis 4:6,8
Weekly Memory Verse: “Be angry and do not sin;” Ephesians 4:26a, ESV