The person said to me, “Anger is chaos.”
I never considered this point, but they’re right. Anger is the violent upheaval of order in exchange for the wild reaction of man. Everything gets out of order as wildness is released.
I know I get angry sometimes. Mostly it is when I know what people should do and they don’t. Or, when what I thought would happen, doesn’t. Or when what I wanted to say is not heard. Apparently, anger is also pride. It’s upheaval about what we cannot control.
What makes you angry?
Is it when you do your best and you are misunderstood? When you teach your kids and they don’t obey? When someone disagrees? When someone triggers you?
You know, Father God could have been angry at us. Before Jesus, we as mankind, chose idols and natural kings, bad mindsets and sin, affairs and rebellion, besides Him.
God had every reason to be angry and to unleash the fury of disorder on our lives. He could have said, “I’m so angry at you, I will not send my Son. I am bitter because you all aren’t better!”
I may have acted like that.
But, God didn’t. He sent HIs son. He sent His Son even though God could have been bitter. He sent His Son even though God had every right to hold anger against us. He sent His Son even though we walked in idolatry and witchcraft.
He could have been angry, but “God so loved the world, He sent His only Son.”
And, Jesus’ love brought all order back to Earth.
Love is order. Love brings order. And, life. Especially when we release it in situations and to people who don’t deserve it.
But there is also one other thing that brings order to disorder.
Do you know it?
“And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling…”
“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:37, 39)
Peace turns chaos into order.
The opposite of anger is peace. When we operate in peace, we keep order.
How can you bring peace to chaotic situations? How can you keep your peace? How can you focus on peace?
For me? I aim to do 3 things:
1. I create space by taking deep breaths and giving myself room to think before responding. This means I don’t have to have an answer right away.
2. I reply calmly. Not everything I want to say has to be said.
3. I pray more than I say. When I trust God to fix what my anger thinks it can, I walk in humility that trusts the Lord.
Peace calms storms.
Prayer: Father God, I need you. I need your help and your peace. I ask that the Peace of God would guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. I ask that your peace would bring order and also protect me in all my ways. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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