7 Ways to Help Overcome Anger

posted January 7, 2014

Stories about anger abound. According to the news, people are angry about unemployment, the end of extended unemployment payments, at the economy in general, at their political representatives, at frustrations in health care coverage, at constraints on teachers, at the minimum pay scale, at the treatment of immigrants, and the list goes on.

That doesn’t even touch our irritation and frustration with traffic or with individuals who daily rub us the wrong way and sometimes hurt us deeply.

Let’s face it. Each and every day, there are numerous opportunities to get angry—especially if you watch the news. Consequently, many people simmer all the time. Much of their energy is spent in managing anger, trying to keep it under wraps so nobody will know how angry they are.

But God told us to put our anger away. What are the secrets to getting rid of anger rather than trying to manage it? Why do we talk about anger management, and not about anger resolution?

There are steps you can take to break free from the bondage of anger.

1. Focus on God, not the problem. He is with you, but if you’re looking at the problem, rather than at Him, you won’t receive His help or His strength to overcome. Instead of thinking about what made you mad, think about His faithfulness in the past and about the blessings you have at the moment.
2. Give the problem to God. Ask Him to help you overcome your anger and rest in Him. He is bigger than the problem, and He’s promised that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord. Anger makes you want to “fix” something or somebody. Let God handle the “fixing” and you can rest.
3. Forgive. If someone offended you, forgive. Holding a grudge is like holding hot coals. It eats you up internally and keeps you simmering. Unforgiveness breeds anger. Consider King Saul, his anger at David after David became popular, and how it affected Saul’s life (1 Sam. 17−20).
4. Give a blessing. Look for ways to bless the people who hurt you. If you can’t bless them, bless others around you and make a difference in somebody’s life. (“Don’t return evil for evil or insult for insult, but give a blessing instead” 1 Pet. 3:8) If an individual hurt you, bless them. If you’re angry at a loosely defined “them” (i.e. politicians, world events, and such) find someone closer to home that you can bless. Turn it into positive actions.
5. Speak positively. When you talk about the negative people or things you are mad about, it reinforces negative feelings and builds anger. Avoid needless talk about the things that made you mad. That is, unless you’re speaking with a mature Christian who will help you move beyond your anger.

I’m not advocating burying anger. If you bury anger, you bury it alive and it grows bigger. I’m saying to choose to speak about things that are honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute—things that are worthy of praise, such as those mentioned in Phil. 4:8.)

1. Sing praise. Singing lifts your heart and your mind above the cares of the world and points you to God. It opens the doors of your heart to receive grace from Him.
2. In summary, commit your way to the Lord and fret not. Fretting about what others do leads to evildoing (Ps. 37:5−8).

Sometimes, you can’t help but get angry. It’s a natural reaction. But you can help whether or not you live in it or if you move on with your life. It’s a choice.

Make this a year for putting anger behind you so you can live in the joy of the Lord.

What have you done to overcome anger and put it away?

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