What I am about to write is not something that I copyed from a book or heard someone else say. This is from my personal life experience…what I’ve learned over the past few years about how to deal with my anger. I will openly admit that anger has been a huge issue in my life, since my youth. And, even to this day, it’s something that I have to constantly keep in check. But God is faithful and His grace is sufficient. He has taught me that I can control my anger and has given me wisdom from His word to do so. So I want to share a few points that can help us all manage our anger.
1.) People Are Not Your Problem (Recognize the Schemes)
Most of the anger in my life was me reacting to the actions of another person. So I want to start with this point because this truth hit me like a ton of bricks about two years ago. I was still in college, living in the campus apartments close to the frat houses. My car was parked over in the gravel lot, like always. I remember that it was “rush” for all of the fraternities on campus. For whatever reason, someone broke into my car and filled it with garbage…all the way up to the windows. Was it a prank aimed at me? Or was it a hate crime? Was my car just mistaken for someone else’s? I don’t know. But, needless to say, I was angry. I reported it to the campus police but, because there was no actual damage to the car, it was not vandalism.
Now, I was very angry! I started to concoct a plan to figure out who did it. I went back to my apartment and started reading my Bible…to calm down I guess. I was just flipping around when I came across this verse:
Ephesians 6:12 – For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Paul just finished telling the church at Ephesus to “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Then he says that our battle is not against flesh and blood but the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:11-13). So what did that mean for me? Basically, it meant that I was wasting my time getting all worked up, trying to figure out who broke into my car. What was I going to do when I found them? Curse? Fight? Worse maybe? That scheme may have worked on me, if I had not read that Bible verse. The Devil is my adversary…not whoever trashed my car! When I realized that, it was like a weight was lifted and I felt a peace that I had never felt before. So, now anger-free, I got a trash bag, cleaned out my car, and moved on with my life.
Listen, that person who ticked you off is NOT your problem! We have ONE adversary, and he loves to use people close to us to try and bring us down. If Satan knows how to use people to pull your string, he can come along and ruin your day anytime he wants to. The good news is, he can’t unless you let him (Ephesians 4:26-27). We have to learn to recognize the devil’s schemes… especially when he’s working through other people. And I am keeping “devil’s schemes” underlined to really stress the point! So somebody does something to make you angry and you get soooooo focused on “so and so” and what “they” did. But you fail to see that devil behind the scenes orchestrating the whole mess, trying to make you loose control. Don’t blame “so and so”…they don’t know any better. They are yielding themselves to be used by the devil and they don’t even know it. Pray for them, that they get wisdom. Forgive them and MOVE ON. Because your battle is NOT WITH THEM!!!
RECOGNIZE THE SCHEMES! RECOGNIZE THE SCHEMES!! Feel free to repeat that part to yourself out loud! Get it in your mind. Somebody steals from you…recognize the devil’s scheme. ”They” are gossiping behind your back…recognize the devil’s scheme. You get cut off and flipped off in traffic….recognize the devil’s scheme. People are not the problem…just instruments. And as long as you blame other people for YOUR anger, you will NEVER, EVER be free from it. RECOGNIZE THE SCHEMES so you can walk in freedom.
God Bless.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you Carl for sharing this part I think the devil likes to use his schemes and make us focus on the people especially in church and ministry. I love my church and those in it, I grew up there and never had an issue with one of them, but once I start a ministry theres nothing but bickering, gossip, and linedrawing. I find it difficult to remember that these individuals are being used to cause grief within the church both locally and broader still. I truely believe, as you said in your response that Satan makes it his personal agenda to distract us from serving God and His people, and since souls are on the line distraction isnt an option…
@laurabell24
Praise God for you and your ministry Laura! I can relate to what you are going through, literally. There have been so many times when I have been anger at someone that I have been serving with. I can remember being on my way to church and saying to myself, “Ok, I’m not going to get anger today!” Because, when I got mad, it really ruined my worship and my day in general. But, sure enough, someone say or do something and I would get angry.
Satan is always out to DISTRACT us from what’s important…serving God and His people. And the closer we are to doing God’s will, the more he tries to trip us up. If this ministry is truly what God wants you to do, don’t let anything back you down! You have the Greater One inside of YOU (1 John 4:4)!
This is very personal to me as i have been battling with anger for two days , someone in a ministry saying i said or did something i DID NOT , a nosy ol lady , a pot stirrer as i cal them , butit caused repercussions for me , i had not been in the group very long and was the newbie , she would call and pump info from me , how i felt about such and such , what i thought , etc , although my opinions dont matter we had become friends or so i thought and so she went and told them i said this and i said this , i saids nothing to anyone nor would i , my opinion on any matters dont mean a thing , its ONLY HIS service and our ministry that matters , but it has been used against me and i am very very angry.
Something i fought hard against to control many yrs ago, it controlled me for 15 yrs , and now because of someones lies and deciet and i facing my own anger becauseof a situation , i am not responding to it , but just entertaining the thoughts are a sin.
I know its the devil THRU her , but why?
I am wondering if its a ministry i shouldnt be involved in becasue of this .
I ama prison minister , but i cannot be part of this group of people who grade everything on clicks and hen sessions , its just not my thing .
There is freedom in knowing that our battle is not with people!
good reminder! recognizing the schemes keeps christians from attacking “puppets”…it sounds silly, but it’s just as ridiculous as when i fault people for something the enemy is trying to work through them.
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