Dealing with Sinful Anger (part 4)

Parts 1-3 identified sinful anger by motive and how it is expressed. The next question is, How do you get rid of sinful anger? There are several decisive steps to take.

Identify who you’re angry with and what they owe you. If you have unresolved anger, and you don’t identify who you are really mad at, you will continue to lash out at others who did nothing wrong. There might be stuff you feel is too far in the past, you’ve moved on, but is that really true? Then get specific about what they owe you. What exactly did they take? What would they need to give you to make things right? An apology? Your childhood? Your reputation? Money? You might say, “There is nothing they could give that would make things right.” But you must get specific about what they owe you, did to you, or didn’t do for you.

Ephesians 4:31-32 shows the need to get rid of anger with forgiveness. Identify who it is you need to forgive and what you need to forgive them for. One Bible teacher states: “General forgiveness does not heal specific hurts.” You might identify one person or situation, or a whole list. This alone can remove some of anger’s power in your life. It is the unspoken, secretness of your anger that is keeping it alive.

Part 5 will present the crucial next step in dealing with sinful anger.