How do you respond to injustice?
Healthfully processing anger is not easy. Just because we are believers does not mean life will be free from conflict or hurt. It just means we have Jesus to help us bear those negative experiences and emotions.
But there are times when someone pushes the wrong buttons. And anger is the result. We know as Christians we aren’t to go to bed angry. (Ephesians 4:26.)
Getting angry is not a sin.
What we do with anger could be.
God calls His people to “live peaceably with one another when at all possible,” Romans 12:18
When you consider the Fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control; none of those pair well with anger.
So what do we do with those angry emotions? Ephesians 4:29-31 tells us to get rid of all behavior that would hurt others, and also hurt ourselves. Not only are there natural consequences for the person who steals, gossips, brawls, rages, and slanders (he will find himself with many enemies at best and possibly in legal trouble as well) but he also sets himself up for spiritual imprisonment by giving the devil a foothold.
Living as an imperfect human in an imperfect world is hard enough, without handing a piece of my soul to Satan.
But Scripture encourages us in what to do instead, “ Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you. “ Ephesians 4:32
In order to do those things, we may need to ask for extra help. Others can pray with us and for us. God can help us forgive when it feels impossible.
If you are literal like me, it might feel that I need to truly feel no anger by the time I go to bed if I am obeying Scripture to the letter. How can we humanly do that?
We can’t.
As David Guzik wrote, here’s how God can help us to “forgive each other as Christ forgave you:” God forgives wholly and completely, restoring us with honor before God.
When I consider that, I realize the grudge I want to nurse has no business staying in my heart or mind.
We need to recall that forgiveness doesn’t make the offense “okay.”
By forgiving we are not saying we deserved that treatment or earned those harsh words.
We are choosing to act as God does with us. It’s not easy.
But with Him, all things are possible.
Forgiveness does not mean we set ourselves up for repeated abuse. We can choose forgiveness and not continue a relationship when it’s warranted.
Are you, like me, trying to discern how to implement this?
Thankfully this is not something we must do on our own. Thankfully, we can always call on Jesus to help us navigate each day. He promises in John 10:10 that He came so we might have life and have it abundantly. Part of that abundant life is equipping us to live righteously here on earth. And a huge chunk of righteous living involves forgiveness.
Will you join me in asking for His help with just that?
Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank You for Your forgiveness. I didn’t earn it. I don’t deserve it, but You give it anyway. God, I need Your help in offering forgiveness to others who have hurt me. Please help me forgive as You do. I can’t do it without You. In Jesus’ name, amen.