What is anger hiding?

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:9

Sometimes I get angry.  I've even been angry with God. But what is anger really? I've tried to analyze my anger and discover, not what I am angry about, but if I am really angry. Generally I am not.

Even Jesus, when He turned over the sellers tables in the temple, was angry, but His anger was really in response to His love, sadness, and frustration with this sinful world.

12Then Jesus went into the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. 13 And He declared to them, "It is written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer.' But you are making it a den of robbers.'" Matthew 21:12,13

The other day I was so angry about all the political goings on, but when I thought about it, really I was sad.  I was so sad that I had to cry out to God to take away my terrible sadness at the state of the world, the sadness of watching people fight and argue and struggle,  and the sadness at how divided we have become.  The devil is working overtime. I wanted to go live in the forest alone.

Often when I think I am angry I am just frustrated or maybe feeling insecure like no one is listening to me.  Anger is a way of hiding the truth of what we are really feeling.  It is unfortunate because once I am able to figure out what the true feeling is behind my anger, I am not angry anymore.

Our "anger" is usually based on self. and what we want or feel we deserve.  We are self-centered beings and it is a constant struggle to remind ourselves of this fact so that we can focus on Christ's example and react accordingly.

When we turn our anger on those around us, we hurt them and then they can become angry and the cycle continues.  They, however, are really feeling misunderstood, hurt, unappreciated, or just plain tired of someone being angry at them.  Instead of being angry, if we could explain the true emotion, they will  usually respond with kindness and understanding.

Why do we think that anger will solve the problem?  I've never seen anger solve anything.  As Christians, we need to show the world that we can express what we are feeling and why, without resorting to anger.

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.James 1: 19,20

When we feel anger coming on,...STOP....THINK.....why am I reacting this way?  What do I really feel and why?  I'm not saying that you will then be happy and carefree.  That is ridiculous.  We are human. You will be whatever true emotion you are having, but whatever it is, is still better than being angry.  You can then deal with it (go take a nap or something) hopefully without hurting others, causing misunderstandings, getting into a huge fight, or whatever happens when people get angry.

Then talk to God about it.  Talk to those around you especially anyone that you think you are angry with.  If you can't talk to them, then pray for them.  If you have already blown up or expressed your anger, apologize and explain.

If I really think about it, I have never really been angry that wasn't hiding some other true feeling. Maybe that feeling is just dislike of a person who we feel has mistreated us or discomfort in a particular place, but even still, anger is not the best expression of those feelings.  (And neither is keeping them inside until you blow - just a side note to those of you who bury your emotions)

I do understand that sometimes just getting mad can be a great emotional release, but if it is at the expense of someone else, we know how unfair that is because it has happened to each of us at one time or another.

Praise God for He has given us a brain to try to figure out our innermost feelings.  As my mother would say, "Use it!."

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly
Proverbs 14:29