Today I want to talk about what the Bible Says About: Anger, Frustration, or Over-Stimulation.

If you prefer to listen or watch, you can hear this podcast episode from The Living Easy Podcast on YouTube, on Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

The Bible says in Romans 12:19 that vengeance belongs to the Lord, and we should not
take what is His.

While anger itself is not a sin, acting out in anger or using anger in a way that harms
others or yourself is a sin. There is a difference between righteous anger and unrighteous
anger.

This sin of anger isn’t foreign to me. It is something that has been a constant struggle in
my motherhood. I react out of anger and raise my voice or respond in a way that forces
me to apologize moments later. It’s frustrating because I felt STUCK in it for years. Like I
somehow couldn’t escape it, no matter what I did.

But I’ve learned over the years through pretty consistent evaluation and self-work that
what I’m feeling is overstimulation, which then leads to anxiety, which then leads to
overwhelm which finally leads to anger and a sinful reaction. And though I now have a
deeper understanding of what causes it, it still doesn’t diminish that my reaction is sinful.

“Righteous anger creates redemptive fruit. In righteous anger, we join God in anger over
evil. It is an anger we feel with God, not at God. That kind of anger propels us toward
acts of faith and love and true justice. Righteous anger feels grief ( Mark 3:5 ), and because
it is actually an expression of love, a deep displeasure over the way evil defames God and
destroys people, it is not arrogant or rude or stubborn or resentful ( 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 ).
It does not, in reality or fantasy, want revenge ( Romans 12:19–20 ). And since we join God
in this displeasure, it moves us toward prayer, rather than sinful action.

Sinful anger, on the other hand, does not bear redemptive fruit. Instead, it leaves us with
exasperated frustration. It produces a boiling feeling in our hearts that can’t be tamed
until it’s released. Sinful anger alienates us from God. It does not move us toward acts of
faith and love and true justice, but toward acts of selfishness like withdrawal, irritability,
rudeness, exclusion, and bitterness. Sinful anger is characterized by self-pity, not godly
grief over evil. And it produces the cancer of cynicism that eats away at faith, diminishing
our desire to pray.”

You may relate to my story in regards to overstimulation – it’s SO common in
parenthood, but that doesn’t mean it’s justified.

Over-stimulation, or sensory overload, is when your senses are just completely overloaded with information, making it difficult
(or sometimes near impossible) to fully process the information you are receiving. 
You may feel this heightened frustration when your spouse or kids are touching you too
much and you begin to feel touched-out and notice that your anger is rising. Or when
everything is too loud and overwhelming – whether it’s hearing ‘mom, mom, mom’ or
‘dad, dad, dad’ over and over and over again or when loud music is playing and someone
is trying to talk with you. Or when you have too much on your plate and someone tries to
communicate with you when you’re already thinking about your lengthy to do list. Or
when the water is running, the counter is dirty, your toddler is tugging on your leg and
your spouse is asking what you want for dinner.

If you’re someone who gets overstimulated, these situations likely hit way too close to
home for you. OR if you have a spouse who struggles with this, it can be really helpful to
see that they aren’t just ‘angry’ people, but that they are far more sensitive to sight, touch
and sound and find ways to navigate that. Noise-canceling headphones has changed
EVERYTHING for me.

Whether you struggle with overwhelm, anxiety or just anger as a whole, we know that
God desires good for our lives. There is hope for change! He is a redeemer and a restorer.

The Bible doesn’t name these sins so that we can feel shame or point blame at the people
in our lives, they are named so that we can work toward holiness and godliness.

2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test
yourselves.”

I have had people in my life who struggle with anger, and one thing I find that is common
amongst most of them is the justification of their sin. They say things like, ‘I’ve always
been this way.’ Or ‘This is just who I am.’ But when Jesus is our savior, that justification
no longer qualifies.

Ephesians 4:17-24 says, “With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

If you prefer to listen or watch, you can hear this podcast episode from The Living Easy Podcast on YouTube, on Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

So now that we understand what sinful anger is, and why it is antithetical to what Jesus
wants for us, how do we overcome it?

The answer is humility. We must kill our right to be angry.

Sinful anger is fueled by pride. You know that person in your life, or maybe it’s you and
it’s okay to acknowledge that!, who won’t admit when they’re wrong.They’re the last to say sorry – or maybe they don’t ever say it.
They react with a harsh tone, they honk the horn at anyone who even slightly agitates
them, they cause disruption and suck the peace out of their home, they cuss or yell and
make sure everyone feels their anger.

Or maybe they aren’t the yelling type, and instead they withdraw. They give the silent
treatment and ensure that everyone feels the discomfort that theyre feeling by projecting it
outward.

The word ‘Christian’ means ‘little Christ’. This name is given to us because we are made
in Christ’s image. We are to imitate His character and to strive to live like Him. 1 John 2
reminds us: ‘Whoever claims to live in Him, must walk as Jesus did.’

Jesus is a part of the trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Therefore, we know His
character based on what he displayed in his time on earth and also through the character
of God and through God’s word. We can also use scripture to help us battle and
overcome sin, just as Jesus did on the mount.

Take some time to memorize these scriptures or post them on your car or mirror:

Proverbs 14:29 says, “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a
hasty temper exalts folly.”
Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Eph. 6:4, “Do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and
instruction of the Lord.”

James 1:19-1:20 “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.”

So, now that we know what God says about it, how do we replace this anger?

Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you
were called in one body. And be thankful.”

1. We pray. We pray for God’s peace to replace the anger that we live in. We pray a
prayer of gratitude and thanks for the GOOD in our lives, rather than what we see as
wrong with the world or other people. You should prepare yourself to not actually want to
pray. Prayer is self-humbling – it says ‘I actually dont have it all together, and I need help.’
It’s a huge step. We need to honestly and candidly express our anger to Him – and ask for
His forgiveness. He promises to respond to our humility with grace.
2. You need to talk about it. Your pride may tell you ‘nope’, or you may think, “I’m not
going to admit that this is a struggle.” “It’s humiliating.” “Other friends will look down on
me.” But let me tell you something: I’ve only seen freedom and a breath of relief come
from people whom I express my sin to. Because they can finally say, ‘Oh wow, you too?’
When our sin is in the light, the Enemy loses his power over it. If you feel resistance
talking about it, it may be a sign to address pride in your heart.
3. Memorize God’s word for moments of deep, impulsive anger or frustration.
Replace the lies that you’re believing about yourself, others or your situation with His
permanent Truth. He will give you the power to overcome temptation. Your family will
see the fruit of it, you will begin to find deep relief and your faith will grow.
I truly believe that if you do the work and fill your minds with the things of God, that you
and your family will feel the fruit of it.

What are some practical and spiritual ways that you battle anger? Comment below and
let me know!

Love, Linds