Anger as a Gift | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Anger as a Gift | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jerry Lyn Luckie
01/28/05
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“Don’t be afraid to get really angry,” my friend told me. I had been newly separated and I was going through a range of emotions that began to confuse and haunt me. We were sitting in a little coffee shop. My husband had left me the week before to be with someone else. I remember looking out the window and recalling how the world was going on – the sun was shining, a group of children were playing happily on the sidewalk, the clang of coffee cups were heard in the kitchen and familiar smells of coffee brewing enfolded me in it’s aroma.

But as I explained to my close friend that I felt, as a Christian, I shouldn’t get angry. I felt those emotions would get me nowhere and were not what God intended. Her words rang in my ear: “I think God wouldn’t have given us the emotion of anger, if he didn’t intend for us to use it. But why don’t you think about how you can use it for good instead of evil.”

Then I recalled hearing the words of the Bible in Ephesians, (the Message) on a daily radio program: 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.”

As the tears rolled down my cheeks I knew I had anger deep inside me that needed to come out and needed to be expressed. That day I can remember closing my door and dropping to my knees at my bed. “I am angry Lord. Life is not fair. I held up my end of the bargain, and I am still left alone and afraid.” And the anger came out in prayer that day toward my husband, myself and toward God.

I remember the relief of the moment, and that night as I lay in bed crying out to God, I heard my friend’s words again and recalled the scripture. And I knew I had a choice. A choice that wouldn’t be easy, but would actually define how I began to live my life. I decided that anger was a part of who I was in the moment, but that letting it fester is what causes and bitter and resentful heart. I knew it was God’s wish that I work through anger and begin the path to forgiveness. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but as I worked through it, I actually felt my heart soften. And it did not happen at the snap of a finger, but as long process of intention and sharing, of praying and valuing the blessings God had given me, that I could walk on the path to forgiving, because I had been forgiven through the blood of the Cross.
And now I realize, when we allow him to,God uses our anger as a gift to fulfill his purposes.

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