Page 12 - June 2015 Catalyst

turning our anger into
positive action
it is wise to direct your anger towards your proBleMs, not towards people;
to focus your energies on answers
By: Bonita Britt, founder resurection, redeMption, & restoration Ministries international
Most of us allow anger to get the best of us at times---- some more often than others.
We know what happens to us physically when we get mad. Adrenaline floods our system. Our heart rate rises along with our blood pressure, our breathing turns shallow. Muscles tense, skin flushes, and our tempera- ture increases. We shift into alert mode, ready to react to danger or threat.
It’s a perfectly appropriate response to cru- elty or injustice (for instance). It also would be right for you to feel angry if an intruder in- vaded your home or if an unreasonable neigh- bor threatened your children. Jesus Christ upended the tables of the moneychangers in
Jerusalem’s temple courts, declaring, “Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of robbers” (Mark 11:17).
The Victims.... Victims struggle with ex- pressing their emotions, usually because they were taught that anger is bad, so their anger remains bottled up and unresolved. Rather than showing their anger, they turn it inward on themselves and they smother their spirit through self-belittlement, blame and guilt. “I can’t do anything right” is a frequent lament.
Victims often suffer from psychosomatic problems; hypotension, headaches and colitis. They may cling to others to the point of driv- ing them away.
Manipulation... Manipulation likewise hide their anger. They don’t raise their voice or curse. Instead of turning their anger inward, however, they lash out actions with sarcasm, innuendo, and comments intended to inspire guilt. Manipulators employ any method that seems to work---- authority, money, power, dependency---- to get what they want, leav- ing those around them feeling used and abused.
The Rager... Ragers often were raised by controlling parents. As grown-ups, they’re
12 CityLight.org
June 2015