Anger is generally seen as a negative emotion. We think of it as yelling, screaming, and losing our cool. While there are many misuses of anger, it also has the power to bring good.
Anger has the reputation of being an immature and selfish emotion. It’s the emotion of toddlers who don’t get their way and of adults who experience the same.
And maybe more often than not, our anger is an adult version of a temper tantrum.
However, there is also a righteous anger.
Anger by itself simply lets us know we have experienced an injustice.
And as an emotion it does not distinguish between merely not getting our way and a true injustice. This is where maturity is needed.
Unfortunately, in not wanting to associate with anger’s bad reputation, we attempt to avoid anger in all forms.
As such, we struggle to name and to be motivated to correct the true injustices in life.
For example, it is okay to be angry when a commitment is broken. This should not happen and anger reminds us of this.
Anger also motivates us to address and hopefully correct the situation – restoring the relationship back to honoring our faithful commitments to each other.
Likewise, it’s okay to be angry anytime God’s best is not yet being fully experienced.
This is not a yelling and screaming anger, but a righteous anger letting us know we are missing the mark – and hopefully motivating us to change the situation for the good.
Righteous anger moves us to fight for God’s best in our marriage and sexual life, in our friendships and in our work. It keeps us from resigning to complacency.
The benefit of (righteous) anger is that it drives us to pursue the good throughout our life and relationships.
Use anger for good.
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