I've experienced both in my life that is for sure. There have been times where I have been really bad angry and times were I have been good angry. The times that were bad were not the best. I cringe even thinking about those times as I write this post. The times where I have gotten really really angry were experiences that I would take back every time. It was like something took over my body and mind because I had reached a breaking point.
I write that like I am some sort of crazy person, but there were times where I would get really upset about something and I would show it. One of the times I think back of was a basketball practice during my sophomore year of college. I was out by half court tangled up with one of my teammates in some pointless drill and I was so fed up with him that I elbowed him in the nose and broke it.
There have been times where I was good angry. I was fed up and angry with the people around me but I used that emotion I had in me as motivation. That fuel was also used as motivation to prove others wrong.
The times where I was the good angry were fine. I was at a point where I knew that I could either go crazy or use the anger and frustration that was built up to better myself. When I choose that route it worked 10 times out of 10 times. It also helped me build self-control. I didn't like getting crazy angry but sometimes that felt better...it was just a matter of being aware of what was really happening when I would experience that rage.
Just so I don't sound like a rage monster, this anger I am talking about probably happened like 10 times in my life.
What I hope to challenge you with today is to use your anger for good. Anger isn't necessarily a bad thing depending on how you go about it. You can use it very constructively and that is my hope for you today.
In Mark chapter 3, Jesus heals a man's hand on the sabbath and there were plenty of people who were not happy about this at all. Especially the religious leaders of the time. Many of those leaders turned against Jesus and became his 'enemies.' They were jealous of his popularity, his miracles, and the authority in his teaching and actions. They valued their status in the community and their opportunity for personal gain so much that they lost sight of their goal as religious leaders - to point people toward God.
Of all people, the Pharisees should have recognized the Messiah, but they refused to acknowledge him because they were not willing to give up their treasured position of power. When Jesus exposed their attitudes, he became their enemy instead of their Messiah, and they began to look for ways to turn people against him.
"Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shrived hand, "Stand up in front of everyone." Then Jesus asked them, "which is unlawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deep distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus." (Mark 3:2-6)
The Pharisees in this situation were specifically trying to find a reason to accuse Jesus and frustrate him. I bet there have been times in your life where you felt like people singled you out to try and make you mad. This happens all of the time nowadays...
Jesus didn't let that outside frustration get to him and he calmly told the man with the shriveled hand to stand up in front of everyone. This action by Jesus is encouraging as well. Jesus knew that there were people in that room who wanted to see him fail but he had full intentions of healing this man in front of everyone and he didn't do it in arrogant fashion. He was calm, cool, collected, and knew that God had a plan.
Next, Jesus asks a question and nobody responds to him. They were all silent. This angered Jesus because it wasn't a difficult question but he most likely knew that they weren't answering the question on purpose. They kept their mouths shut because they wanted to accuse Jesus and make him act out of character and he never did.
I can just picture Jesus looking around in anger and distress and telling the man to stretch out his hand and healing him. In front of everyone who was trying to accuse him...but he had no fear and was obedient to God because he knew he had a plan.
As soon as Jesus had healed the man's hand the Pharisees went out and begin to figure out how they were going to kill him. Now Jesus new this all along. He understood this was all part of the plan, but he did it anyways.
God has such an amazing plan for each and every one of our lives and we so easily let anger throw us off the amazing paths that we are on. I encourage you to use the anger you have in a way that is obedient to God and encougraing to others. Because you know that there were people in that room who were encouraged by what Jesus had just done even though there seemed to be so many against him.
The next time the world wants you to be angry, encourage everyone with how you handle it.
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