In our last episode we considered the topic- The Power of Our Attitude and saw how a
positive or negative attitude to life can impart our lives negatively or positively. In this
Episode we shall consider the topic-Overcoming Anger and Resentment.- The Root and
Serious Nature of Anger.
Most of us understand exactly what I mean by anger and Resentment because we all
experience outbursts of anger and antagonism from time to time. Sometimes we are the
ones that lose control and lash out on others. But I want to take time to briefly look at
the root and dangers of anger so that we don’t make the mistake of glossing over the
dangers of anger or pretend that it’s an emotion we can ignore
Anger is an intense antagonistic emotion towards a person you feel has done you
wrong. Sometimes as we know, it starts as a harmless minor feeling but quickly grows
into a dangerous uncontrollable feeling.
It is typically characterized by feelings of stress, frustration, irritation, bitterness and
sometimes it leads to violence.
When we let anger and frustration at a situation fester and build up in our hearts we
develop bitterness and resentment. So bitterness and resentment take over when we
cling to anger over time and continue to hold a grudge against the person who has
wronged us.
Anger often causes people to blow misunderstandings and minor grievances out of
proportion. Anger and loss of self control inhibits healthy intimate relationships. So it
would normally cause relationship problems-loss of friends; loss of marriage; loss of job.
People that have an anger as well as ego issue usually prefer to end relationships
rather than make an effort to resolve the issues.
In the heat of anger, people sometimes lash out with insults and unprintable words
against loved ones which they may later regret.
I read somewhere that 60 percent of all homicides in the United States take place in the
home among family members. As we know, anger also causes destruction of valuable
property. People have been known to set properties on fire in an angry emotional
outburst. Then off course there are some people that prefer to keep their anger and
nurse it on the inside. Such people would resort to punishing others with the silence
treatment and rejection for very long periods.
Recurrent anger is detrimental to both our emotional and physical health because when
you get angry your body goes through some physiological changes. The medical
professionals have said that when we get angry the heart rate quickens; the blood
pressure spikes, the body temperature rises and the body releases adrenaline and
cortisone which are stress hormones-all of which could lead to more serious medical

complications including stroke and heart attacks and mental health problems like
chronic anxiety and depression.
However, a feeling of anger on its own is not a sin. The challenge depends on what we
do with the feeling of anger. If we are able to control the feeling of anger by the help of
the Holy Spirit, we have off course not committed any sin. In fact when people make fun
of us, anger can even make us rise to the occasion and do what is expected of us.
Jesus exhibited a righteous anger when He drove the money changers and all those
buying and selling out of the temple.
In Ephesians 4:26-27 we are told to- Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go
down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
The message that God is passing on to us in this scripture is that there is a way to
recognize the warning signs at the onset of angry feelings, realize that it is the devil
urging us to react; and decide not to act in anger by insulting someone.
Proverbs 16:32 says-Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who
rules his spirit than he who takes a city. A person who rules his spirit is a person who
has self-control. Self control is a fruit of the spirit and according to this scripture is more
valuable than physical strength. The message in Ephesians 4 therefore is that it is not
sin if we get angry but bring our anger under control by the help of the Holy Spirit.
Most people that have anger issues would often take time to describe the offense done
to them in details. Sometimes they retell the story so many times even embellishing it in
order to convince others that they are the victim and also to justify their anger.
But God has made it clear in the scriptures that a habit of uncontrolled anger is
undesirable and unacceptable for His children.
James 1:19-20 states-Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to
hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the
righteousness of God. God makes it clear here that the thoughts that come into our
mind when we are angry does not produce righteousness in a man. Uncontrolled anger
can never be justified and cannot in any way glorify the name of God. Trying to justify
anger is a futile exercise.
Uncontrolled anger leads to confusion, strife and other sins. Proverbs 29: 22-An angry
man stirs up dissension, and a hot tempered one commits many sins.
Anyone who has an anger problem should face up to the fact that anger does not glorify
God and will hinder his relationship with God. Galatians 5:22 states that the fruit of the
spirit is-love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self control.
Obviously the Holy Spirit will find it difficult to find a home in the spirit of a person who is
constantly throwing fits of temper. A person who is prone to fly into fits of temper would
find it extremely difficult to dwell in the presence of God, to grow spiritually or to
manifest the gifts of the Spirit

The question is why would I want to work on my anger problem? Like I have explained
before uncontrolled anger can be destructive to you as well as others. Anger can cause
physical harm to your body system. People say that anger is like drinking poison and
expecting it to harm someone else. Most importantly anger problem would hinder your
relationship with the Holy Spirit. Uncontrolled anger would definitely have a negative
effect on your fellowship with God. So why would you not want to work on this problem?
Yes, it is true that many times there is a reason for the anger; people would always
upset us and betray us. People would do the unthinkable to us. But in Mathew 18:21,
when Peter asked Jesus- Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive
him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but
up to seventy times seven. Jesus standard is that we forgive everything and everyone
and as many times as we are offended.
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How then do we tackle and overcome the problem of anger?
Nothing we hear from messages or read in books on overcoming anger can work until
we change our mindset, agree with God that anger is destructive and make up our
minds to work on the problem. You must therefore take responsibility for the problem of
anger; take responsibility! You must acknowledge that it is a problem you need to work
on and be willing to work on it. The first step is to stop justifying your actions and stop
finding excuses for your outbursts of anger.
We have run out of time so we shall go into details on this important conversation of
overcoming the problem of anger in the next Episode.