Have you ever reacted adversely to what someone said or did that made you want to tell them off or physically harm them? Anger from within your spirit suddenly erupts into desires to get even or do harm. As they say, these feelings can happen to all of us, even the best of us.
But the root cause comes from what lies in your heart. Perhaps it is a wound struck by an action against you or a hidden sin reignited by a word spoken out of place. Whatever it is, God desires to heal your injury and clean your heart from wrongdoing.
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:19-21
Jesus Christ is our example. Even though He was viciously attacked, insulted, and accused of much evil, He did not react but was kind and forgiving. Yet, through His pure speech and behavior, let’s not forget that He did not cower to His accusers. But He spoke the bold truth of their evil ways, even to those who were of high social and religious stature, with no fear.
Through godly wisdom, righteousness, humility, and self-control, Jesus said and did the things that honored God the Father. It is essential to seek to walk in God’s holiness and purity and honestly evaluate your own heart to see what needs to be changed for good and to challenge others to repent for ungodly behavior and ways of life.
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct, let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:13-18
Most of us resist God because of our pride and selfishness. We refuse to open ourselves up to the Lord in fear of punishment or a twisted idea that He will reject us because we know how evil we have been behaving. Yet Jesus Christ is incredibly loving, gentle, and forgiving. He waits close by you, desiring for you to turn from your sin and cry out to Him with a lowly repentant heart for Him to help you. He waits for you to ask for forgiveness, and then He will heal your wounds and cleanse your dirty, sinful heart, soul, and mind.
I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name. I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; Isaiah 65:1-2
Give up any pride that is holding you back from His healing. Give up any anger that keeps you from turning from your sin and ask for His forgiveness and love. Jesus is waiting and wanting to change you from the inside out and give you a wellspring of life, joy, love, and peace. Don’t let one more moment of holding onto your pain and suffering keep you from God’s healing touch that will transform your life from darkness to light.
