Anger, is that you?

A few weeks ago, some girlfriends and I started a study called Stuck. 

The 8 week long study is all about addressing the areas in our lives where we get stuck, but often continue on as if nothing is wrong. It's like something inside of us is convinced that we are the only one that could possibly be struggling, and so we neglect to address the issues that often have the firmest grip on us. 

This week's topic was anger. 

I did my best to make angry faces to accompany this post. You're welcome. 

I've been thinking a lot about anger lately. I've been paying more attention to this emotion when I see it in myself, and when I see it in others. I'm starting to notice a trend. I would dare to say that

anger seldom travels alone. 

Anger is often accompanied with pain, heartache, insecurity, and/or fear. I would even dare to say that these other emotions are typically paving the way for anger, they can be the seed from which anger grows. 

Realizing this has helped me to see anger in an entirely different light. When I am feeling angry, I ask myself why. Where is this emotion coming from? Often it's not even anger that I'm feeling, but rather hurt. And once I understand this, I can rationally see that lashing out or building bitterness is not going to do anything to help that pain. If anything, anger or bitterness will cause the pain to grow. 

And once I've figured out exactly what I'm feeling, I can take the time to analyze if this is even a rational feeling to begin with. Perhaps I'm feeling hurt by a friend's actions, or lack of actions. Maybe I am feeling insecure because I'm fearful that I care more for a person than they care about me. 

This is where God stares me straight in the face and reminds me of the fact that my identity lies in Him. The fact of the matter is that I am probably more cared about and loved than I will ever know, but when I am looking to others for worth or value, it will never feel like enough. 

As I let this truth wash over me, I can see myself uprooting the anger and bitterness in my life. Because it was never anger or bitterness to begin with, not really anyway. It all came from the deep seed of insecurity, and simply manifested itself into an entirely different monster all together. 

In Stuck, Jennie reminds us that Jesus Christ was misrepresented, mocked, betrayed, beaten and murdered unjustly while on this planet, and yet He rarely displayed anger. 

I really can't wait to meet this incredible Savior of ours one day. 

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Oh, and PS: thanks for your answers yesterday! They really were so fun to read, you guys are awesome. Love you all!

Happy Humpday!