I have noticed that I am becoming increasingly more and more angry with people in general. Tonight was no exception.
I was a red light that has two lanes that turn left. I was in the right hand lane and had my blinker on. There was a car beside me. The light turned and I followed the dashed lines around. Well this woman decides that she is not going to stay in her lane and comes over in front of me. I blow my horn, but she does not stop coming over. She then blows her horn and slams her breaks on in front of me. I get over one lane and get up beside her and she starts yelling and cussing at me as though I were at fault.
In my fit of anger I call here a stupid c*&^ and then proceed to call her an asshole and tell her to learn to drive. Now she is going to call the police and I tell her to go ahead. I get into the turn lane and this woman cuts across two lanes of traffic and starts to follow us.
My wife asks me if she should call the police and dials 911. There is apparently no answer and she hangs up. I pull into Lowes parking lot and the lady just drives on by blowing her horn. Within a few seconds, 9111 calls back, but because my wife had her ear buds in, she could not hear the dispatcher.
I park the truck and get out. The lady is at the light to turn left and I proceed to yell at her to call the police and she can explain to them why she came over into my lane without a signal. My wife is talking to the dispatcher at this time about what happened and the dispatcher asked for her plate. Normally I would get it, but not tonight. I went into the store to look for something, but came back out in a few minutes. My wife is on the phone with the dispatcher and the dispatcher is taking notes.
My wife and I talk about it for a bit and I tell her that I have become increasingly more angry at certain situations and she responds with she has noticed. I tell her that I love her and respect her, but that I am sick and tired of woman trying to belittle men and if that is the game they want to play I will make women feel about 0.5″ tall. She tells me that she is tired of that as well. Woman act like men are the enemies and are doing everything in their power to make use feel small and weak. I know this is not the right attitude.
My wife and I discuss the situation on the way home and I told her that the lady did not like the c word that I called her. She responded that she did not like it either. Then she responds with that was not Christ like behavior. She understands my frustrations, but nicely reminded me that there has to be a better way to release that anger. Dang why did I have to marry such a smart godly woman? Does not matter, I am just glad I did. It was one of the better discussions we have had after a situation like that.
So how does one handle anger on the road or at home or anywhere where when put into a situation where you may be provoked? There are many bible verses on how anger and sin such as:
Ephesians 4:26-31 New International Version (NIV)
26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
James 1:19-20 New International Version (NIV)
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
James 4:1-2 New International Version (NIV)
4 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.
Colossians 3:8 New International Version (NIV)
8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Now there are many verses in Proverbs Psalms about anger and patience, but the one thing that seems to be lacking in all of those is how or is it? Paul’s advice is to put all the anger and abusive speech aside. Sounds great, doesn’t it? It is not easy task.
- You need to take captive your thoughts.
- You need to analyze the anger and determine if the anger is righteous, sinful, or a mixture.
- Most importantly, you need to surrender yourself to God, acknowledge that you sinned, ask for forgiveness, and ask for His help.
Do you want to control your anger? Remember that you have freewill and it is okay to say no I do not want to control it, but also remember that there is a consequence for your action.