Regarding James, how do I apply this to myself?
"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires" (James 1:19-20 NIV).
The first time I ever gave my testimony, I discussed this verse. I grew up with two parents who struggled with some anger, which resulted in their divorce after over twenty-five years of marriage. And their divorce was utterly hurtful to me, and I developed intense anger. Now in my day to day life I was still just me, but anger brings damage. For example, I remember a friend in college, a fellow Resident Advisor, asking me why my phone (landline) was damaged. She was totally surprised when I responded that I had thrown my phone when I was upset with something my mom said. She said she could not picture me getting mad. But I did. Fortunately the phone was tough and still worked.
Soon after I turned to Jesus, I felt as though some anger had been removed, praise be to God!
But the problem remained, and it was a process of getting healing. The process included learning from Jesus to be enabled to forgive people.
(I add this paragraph in at a later time: In my "Contemporary Youth Problems" class at Colorado Christian University, I learned that everyone gets angry, yet "blowing up" is a choice. It was a turning point for me when I was convinced it is my choice to blow up or to refrain from blowing up! Previously, I thought it was simply out of my control.)
If you want help in getting rid of entrenched anger and to be helped from lashing out, submit to Jesus, because He can enable any person to forgive any person. The result is that anger dissipates.
Anger will eat at you from the inside out, and I am thankful that Jesus has freed me.
Regarding James, who do I apply this to my community?
If I am slow to become angry, I will have better relationships in my community!
Hunter Irvine
