Short Fuse

I’m pretty sure almost all of us experience a short fuse at times (some certainly more than others!), and though anger is a natural and sometimes even healthy emotion, do you ever stop and wonder why you sometimes get angry without any logical explanation? Anger stems from our emotions within; sometimes our anger is a quiet, bubbling bitterness or resentment at some small or large wrongdoing, and then there are times our anger explodes and can result into revenge and hurt even those who are close to us. It can shatter communication, tear apart relationships, destroy our joy, and sometimes even our health

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The Bible has a lot to say about anger, and often relates it to a person who is without wisdom:

“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” (Proverbs14:29)

“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” (Proverbs29:11)

On the other hand, since anger is a God-given emotion (like so many other emotions) and is a natural, normal response resulting from a sense of being wronged, threatened, or hurt, anger is not always a sin. The type of anger that is not sinful is called “righteous anger”, and there are very appropriate times in our lives for anger: when children are mistreated or injured; when someone uses God’s holy name carelessly, when a loved one is betrayed or abused, etc.  But by God’s good grace we have principles and guidelines to overcome sinful anger and remain in control.

We can express righteous anger in a way that brings glory to God by…

Ø  Identifying the source of your anger

Ø  Attacking the problem not the person

Ø  Acting, not reacting

Ø  Being open and honest when communicating to solve an issue

Ø  Speaking the truth in love

Ø  Understanding that God is in control

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”  (James 1:19-20)

The Lord is merciful and gracious; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Psalm 103:8)

Many people feel that anger is a natural human reaction; I don’t know about you, but personally, my spontaneous outbursts of anger (or better yet…my occasional short fuse) makes me feel guilty, pretty embarrassed, and miserable! Very often, the harder we try not to be angry, the greater is our failure! However, one thing I know for sure, no one can make us angry without our own consent, and we all need God’s help to ensure we maintain a longer fuse. We need to stop making excuses for our anger or bed temper and instead seek God’s forgiveness and help. Our frustration and temper doesn’t disappear overnight, it takes constant prayer, reading God’s Word, trusting His Word, and accepting responsibility. When we begin to respond and react instead in “Godly anger” we get rid of our temper, bitterness, and fury and begin to be compassionate and loving toward one another. Being angry isn’t always a sin, but what we do with our anger might be. And scripture tells us “do not let the sun go down while you are still angry”, therefore we need to deal with our short fuse immediately and move past it as soon as possible.When we rely upon God through prayer, bible study, and His Holy Spirit, it can be overcome; we can’t stay angry if we obey His command!

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

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