Defer your anger

Defer your anger  Scripture:
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. Proverbs 19:11

Observation:

This proverb speaks of a situation that each one of us comes across very often – when someone does something or says something that offends us. An insensitive comment, a careless accident, a rude gesture – anything can easily trigger a flash of anger in us, regardless of age or sex, race or religion. It is so easy with react with anger, to shout, to retaliate.

However, the proverb tells us defer the anger. It doesn’t say bottle it up, but defer it, save it for a later, more suitable time. It is dangerous and unhealthy to keep resentment and anger within. When it finally explodes, it will do far more damage then one could possibly realize. The Scripture says “Do not let the sun go down in your anger”. It’s a bit like manna, which when kept overnight goes bad.

There are avenues that can help us release our anger. One excellent way is sports or exercise. Let it out on a punching bag or squash ball. Some find relief in writing it out in words in a diary. Some find a suitable place to just shout out loud. Maybe sing karaoke or in the bathroom at the tops of their voices. Anger creates energy that must be unleashed, and we should find a suitable place to let it go in a way that does not harm anyone. Therefore next time we feel anger rising up, do not retaliate but think of a place to unleash it safely.

The second part of the proverb speaks of forgiveness. As the saying goes, to err is human, to forgive divine. It is the nature of our God in Heaven to forgive, to overlook our transgressions in mercy when we come to him. Who are we to judge our fellow neighbor? At the end, we are all answerable to God alone who judges. When Jesus came, he said some of the most radical things of the day. To a people who were used to “an eye for an eye”, Jesus said “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Some things are not easy to forgive of course, and we need to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit to help us forgive. Only after we forgive can we receive healing. Remember, it is to our glory to pass over the transgressions of others and still treat them well in spite of the way they treat us.

Application: Learn to defer anger and release it later safely. Learn to forgive others that our Heavenly Father may forgive us.

Prayer: Lord, help me control my anger and release it in good time. Help me forgive others as You have forgiven me. In Jesus name, Amen.