Anger is like a pet.

I can remember when my daughter was younger and wanted a guinea pig as a pet. I can’t remember how long we had it, but I can remember her wanting to carry it around. Most kids like to carry their new puppy or kitten around like it was a baby.

Isn’t this the way we treat anger at times? We carry it around like a baby kitten, stewing about how someone wronged us or angry that we didn’t get the job we wanted or the promotion we deserved. Anger can eat at your insides, making you physically sick at times.

When you’re hurt and hang onto resentment or betrayal, you’ll find yourself mad at God. How could God let this happen to me? Why me? Being angry isn’t a sin, but being controlled by it is. God may allow things to alter your course, make you upset, but know this: God is there, amongst all the pain and hurt.

I’ve found out that the best thing to do in these situations is to not carry around this anger all day, but give it to God. Pray for the other person that hurt you. Most times they don’t realize they did hurt you, or even care that it upset you.

It’s okay to be angry about something that hurt you, but don’t dwell on it. It’s circumstances, history that we can’t control now or in the future.

Satan wants us to dwell on the hurt. He wants you to get even with the other person. This only shows them that you’re just like them, and no different than the average person.

Let the anger go. Don’t hold onto it. It will only make you bitter and resentful.

James 1:19-20 - “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.”