Chapter 1
Anger
Again, please note that I am writing this
chapter from the perspective of the one who
has the anger problem, so I will be using the
pronoun "you."
The Problem
"Trying very hard" to keep from getting angry is a frustrating
and disappointing experience. Often, the harder you try not to
be angry, the greater is your failure. You are probably very
familiar with this dynamic.
God knows about this struggle
The Apostle Paul wrote:
Doesn't this describe the exact problem you experience?
"What I hate, that I do."
It also describes how you feel about your failure: "O wretched
man that I am!"
God knows all about this, and the fact that you can't overcome
the problem; so He sent His Son Jesus to provide the
solution: "I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord."
You May Be Discouraged
At this point you may be saying "bologna" (or a stronger
word). You may be thinking something like "I have tried
everything to stop these outbursts. I have repeatedly asked
God to take them away from me, and He hasn't."
Or, "I have asked God to give me the strength (as proposed in
the "The Purpose Drive Life") so that I can control my anger,
and He didn't do it."
But the Apostle Paul was not joking. The cure for your anger
problem has been provided for you by Jesus Christ.
Then how come he hasn't set you free?
A Parallel
If I get a splinter in my finger, my body reliably tells me about
it. Only by knowing about it will I know to get some tweezers
and remove it.
When I remove the splinter, my body gives a sigh of relief, as if
to say, "Thanks, I needed that."
While the splinter is still in my finger, that spot is very tender
and easily hurt. But once the splinter is removed, then healing
can occur. When healed, my finger no longer over-reacts to
being touched (or poked).
The Root Cause Of Your Anger
In a similar way, there is some wound inside you that causes
you to spontaneously, emotionally, react when someone
pokes you with a sharp stick.
In other words, the painful, angry reaction is proof that a
"splinter" exists,
Angry outbursts are God's way of saying, "There is a
splinter here that needs to be removed."
After the "splinter" is removed and the wound heals,
there will be less and less outbursts of anger, and
eventually none.
Anger Is Not Sin
The emotion of anger is not sin. However, it can impel us to
sinful behavior.
that it is simply a warning signal telling you there is a problem
inside (a wound that just got poked). You need this
information so that you can "remove the splinter."
Instead of running from your anger, you should "meditate
within your heart" to find the root cause.
A Spiritual Solution
A splinter is a physical thing, and needs a physical solution -
take out the splinter with a pair of tweezers, and disinfect it so
it can heal.
A wound in the heart requires a spiritual "tool" to remove the
offense, so that healing can occur.
How?
The reason you have not succeeded in eliminating your anger
problem is that you haven't know exactly how you can
accomplish a change through Jesus Christ. Therefore, you
need detailed instructions as to how you can succeed in being
set free.
"I Will Give You Rest" is a book which provides specific
information about the types of "splinters" that may be present,
and instructions as to how to remove them.
The normal chapter order is for the majority of needs.
However, your issue needs specific attention, so I would
recommend that you read the book in a different order.
Recommended Sequence
I would recommend that you start with Chapter 11 of the book,
which will help you to understand what your anger is, and
what it is trying to tell you. There is a reason why there is
pressure that builds up inside you.
Be aware that when you read any chapters out of the normal
book order, you may bump into some terms with which you
are not familiar, because they were taught in earlier chapters
which you have not yet read.
However, this should not interfere with the main messages in
the chapters you are reading out of order.
Help Yourself
You are free to spend as much time as you like on this website
for free.
You are free to come and go from the website as you
desire, and you can jump back in where you left off by
clicking on the appropriate chapter in the list on the
Home Page (click on upper left of this page).
Check It Out
The Book In Print
The book is also available in print. You can buy a copy at any
time by clicking here, or on the "Buy One Book" link on the
left of each web page.
Copyright 2003 Edward Kurath
Anger
Again, please note that I am writing this
chapter from the perspective of the one who
has the anger problem, so I will be using the
pronoun "you."
The Problem
"Trying very hard" to keep from getting angry is a frustrating
and disappointing experience. Often, the harder you try not to
be angry, the greater is your failure. You are probably very
familiar with this dynamic.
God knows about this struggle
The Apostle Paul wrote:
"For what I am doing, I do not understand. For
what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I
hate, that I do. O wretched man that I am! Who
will deliver me from this body of death? I thank
God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:
15 ,24, 25 NKJV).
Doesn't this describe the exact problem you experience?
"What I hate, that I do."
It also describes how you feel about your failure: "O wretched
man that I am!"
God knows all about this, and the fact that you can't overcome
the problem; so He sent His Son Jesus to provide the
solution: "I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord."
You May Be Discouraged
At this point you may be saying "bologna" (or a stronger
word). You may be thinking something like "I have tried
everything to stop these outbursts. I have repeatedly asked
God to take them away from me, and He hasn't."
Or, "I have asked God to give me the strength (as proposed in
the "The Purpose Drive Life") so that I can control my anger,
and He didn't do it."
But the Apostle Paul was not joking. The cure for your anger
problem has been provided for you by Jesus Christ.
Then how come he hasn't set you free?
A Parallel
If I get a splinter in my finger, my body reliably tells me about
it. Only by knowing about it will I know to get some tweezers
and remove it.
When I remove the splinter, my body gives a sigh of relief, as if
to say, "Thanks, I needed that."
While the splinter is still in my finger, that spot is very tender
and easily hurt. But once the splinter is removed, then healing
can occur. When healed, my finger no longer over-reacts to
being touched (or poked).
The Root Cause Of Your Anger
In a similar way, there is some wound inside you that causes
you to spontaneously, emotionally, react when someone
pokes you with a sharp stick.
In other words, the painful, angry reaction is proof that a
"splinter" exists,
Angry outbursts are God's way of saying, "There is a
splinter here that needs to be removed."
After the "splinter" is removed and the wound heals,
there will be less and less outbursts of anger, and
eventually none.
Anger Is Not Sin
The emotion of anger is not sin. However, it can impel us to
sinful behavior.
- "Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your
heart on your bed, and be still (Psalms 4:4 NKJV).
that it is simply a warning signal telling you there is a problem
inside (a wound that just got poked). You need this
information so that you can "remove the splinter."
Instead of running from your anger, you should "meditate
within your heart" to find the root cause.
A Spiritual Solution
A splinter is a physical thing, and needs a physical solution -
take out the splinter with a pair of tweezers, and disinfect it so
it can heal.
A wound in the heart requires a spiritual "tool" to remove the
offense, so that healing can occur.
How?
The reason you have not succeeded in eliminating your anger
problem is that you haven't know exactly how you can
accomplish a change through Jesus Christ. Therefore, you
need detailed instructions as to how you can succeed in being
set free.
"I Will Give You Rest" is a book which provides specific
information about the types of "splinters" that may be present,
and instructions as to how to remove them.
The normal chapter order is for the majority of needs.
However, your issue needs specific attention, so I would
recommend that you read the book in a different order.
Recommended Sequence
I would recommend that you start with Chapter 11 of the book,
which will help you to understand what your anger is, and
what it is trying to tell you. There is a reason why there is
pressure that builds up inside you.
Be aware that when you read any chapters out of the normal
book order, you may bump into some terms with which you
are not familiar, because they were taught in earlier chapters
which you have not yet read.
However, this should not interfere with the main messages in
the chapters you are reading out of order.
Help Yourself
You are free to spend as much time as you like on this website
for free.
You are free to come and go from the website as you
desire, and you can jump back in where you left off by
clicking on the appropriate chapter in the list on the
Home Page (click on upper left of this page).
Check It Out
The Book In Print
The book is also available in print. You can buy a copy at any
time by clicking here, or on the "Buy One Book" link on the
left of each web page.
Copyright 2003 Edward Kurath
Divinely Designed
Being changed into the image of Jesus
Being changed into the image of Jesus
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