Useless Anger

Useless Anger

“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret. It leads only to evil”

Psalm 37:8, NIV

My wife and I were driving along while we listened to Sirius channel 114 (Fox News) on the radio. Anger seemed to flow through me as I listened to news of the latest shooting and church fire at a Michigan Morman church. Suddenly Pamela cautioned me, “Your foot’s getting heavy.” I was racing along, exceeding the speed limit. My anger could have led us into a nasty car wreck.

Does injustice anger you as much as it does me? Reports of violence across our nation. Thousands dying in earthquakes. A plane crash with no survivors. The innocent face of a child looks out from a missing person ad: Kidnapped!

I feel helpless in a violent society that leaves behind so much suffering. Runaway teens exploited and abused on Times Square. Victims of drunk drivers. All that angers me!

Webster defines anger as an “impulse to retaliate.” But how can we fight against the wrongs and hurts of society? My helplessness in the face of wrongs and injustice leaves me feeling frustrated. Life seems cruel with little I can do about it.

But God is showing me something. The wrongs in this world are like my neglected lawn. Overgrown grass at spots and weeds in other all need an aggressive lawn mower. The trouble is that I can cut only one swath at a time. I need to persist and whittle away at the grass, cutting around and around my yard until the lawn is restored to order again. Until next week when it needs cutting again. An endless task that, hopefully, will soon be finished for the season.

Here's the good news that you’ve been looking for this week . . . The Lord doesn’t expect me to restore order to the world. And He doesn’t expect you to restore order to the world either. That’s His job. Our anger and frustration only serves to hinder God’s work. Instead, we can contribute our energies to a genuine need. Or we can intercede in prayer for some sore spot on the earth. Or we can share our faith with someone who needs hope and peace.

Will you determine with me to cut our swath where God is calling us, doing our part, as we trust God to cure the ills and injustices of the universe. Getting angry will only get us into trouble. We can fight the injustices of this world by being faithful to the Lord who will make everything right in the end.

Thanks for reading Pastor Dale’s Mid-Week Encouragement.  If you’re a regular attender of the Mt. Laurel Church of God, consider reading 2 Timothy 2:8-15 to get yourself ready to hear God’s message through Pastor Dale on Sunday, October 12.

Called to know the Way, go the Way, and show you the Way,

^{Pastor Dale}

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this message with anyone you choose. And if you'd like to receive PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send an email to (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.