His Majesty the Baby is Angry

In the pop-psychology of the nineteen seventies the trendy thing was “get in touch with your anger and vent it,” hopefully, appropriately. That’s a big hopefully. In particular I remember a job interview years ago for the Director’s position at a Recovery Hospital in California. They had a separate building out behind the unit that was a Gestalt “Scream Therapy” room. The idea was that the patients were to go in there and vent their anger for relief. That kind of venting just multiplies the anger. The Psalmist gives this wise advice, “Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil” [Psalm 37:8].

In the family, and in the job, learn from the experience of Moses. “They angered him at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account, for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke rashly with his lips” [Psalm 106:32-33]. People and situations can drive you nuts! I should know. But one of the five power words in the New Testament is ‘krátos’ which means, ‘might, strength, power, rule or dominion.’  The first place to exercise ‘krátos’ is in exercising self-rule.  Rule over your emotions; don’t let them rule over you. Paul says, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. [Ephesians 4:26].

Everyone experiences anger at one time or another. If you are angry, understand why you are angry and talk about it with a safe person. There are a variety of reasons why we get angry. Very often it is because someone, or some situation, is stepping on our toes. The resulting feelings of helplessness often cause anger. Venting anger is associated with our attempts to control people or situations, and that is not only not very realistic, but sometimes downright destructive.