He Is Sufficient!
God makes it clear that He does not want any expression of anger left in our lives. He wants it all gone, all put away. In Ephesians 4:31, He tells us, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”
We are to be without:
- Bitterness—which grows from anger that is taken inward and held.
- Wrath—the passion that grips.
- Anger—the thought and passion that would seeks vengeance or to manipulate outcomes.
- Clamor—the outward expression of anger.
- Evil speaking—the railing and seeking to tear another down.
- All malice—the evil, wicked thoughts that develop in our hearts and minds when we are angry.
This could seem overwhelming to anyone who has unsuccessfully battled with anger However, the Lord gives us hope by telling us that His grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9), and all things are possible through Him (Matt. 19:26, Luk 18:27). He would not ask this of us if it were something that couldn’t happen.
The key is to remember that it is His grace that is sufficient. It is through Him that all things are possible. If we keep our hopes on ourselves and our own efforts, we are doomed. Only as we look to Him for our salvation do we find His grace sufficient.
Sometimes after an episode with anger we pray and ask God to free us from it; then we are disappointed in God for not answering our prayer. If we run to Him only in the crisis, only when we have a need, we wil never fully tap into the grace that is available.
Our God is a relational God, not a problem solver on call. We grow in grace and strength through an intimate relationship with Him.
Jesus faced the ultimate abuse, and He never lose His temper or spoke a word in His own defense. He was one with His Father and often slipped away for time alone with Him.
His strength is available to us. His grace is sufficient. The question is, Are we sufficiently related with Him?
This meditation is the first lesson from Uprooting Anger: Destroying the Monster Within. Study questions follow the meditation to help explore more verses on the subject. A Second Edition of the book has been released that has been formatted into an 8-week study. It gives insight into what makes you angry and practical steps to find victory in Christ. Check it out.