November 6, 2024 • 31 mins
Have you ever felt anger towards God in the midst of suffering or injustice? This episode explores the profound and complex emotion of anger directed both at God and ourselves. We promise you'll gain a deeper understanding of how beliefs, desires, and expectations shape these feelings. By analyzing anger as a whole-person response to perceived evil, we uncover how unmet expectations can foster feelings of betrayal and prompt us to question God's role in our lives. Join us as we reflect on personal experiences of anger with God, a crucial step towards healing and nurturing a resilient faith.
Humility, repentance, and faith are our guiding lights as we navigate anger towards God. Drawing inspiration from biblical figures like Habakkuk and David, we emphasize the importance of bringing our questions to God while maintaining trust. Suffering is a universal experience, and by sharing our struggles in prayer, we find hope and endurance. Humbling ourselves allows us to approach God with reverence, trusting His wisdom and timing even in life's most challenging moments. Through continuous repentance and acknowledgment of God's higher ways, we foster a faith that endures.
We also turn our gaze inward, addressing the often-overlooked emotion of self-anger. By examining how unmet expectations lead to self-condemnation, we reveal how these feelings impact self-worth and motivation. We uncover root causes of self-anger, such as an unwillingness to accept God's forgiveness, and offer biblical insights to guide us towards grace and peace. Visit our website for additional resources, and join us in building a supportive community dedicated to overcoming life's challenges. We invite you to share your thoughts, questions, and suggestions as we continue this journey together.
Humility, repentance, and faith are our guiding lights as we navigate anger towards God. Drawing inspiration from biblical figures like Habakkuk and David, we emphasize the importance of bringing our questions to God while maintaining trust. Suffering is a universal experience, and by sharing our struggles in prayer, we find hope and endurance. Humbling ourselves allows us to approach God with reverence, trusting His wisdom and timing even in life's most challenging moments. Through continuous repentance and acknowledgment of God's higher ways, we foster a faith that endures.
We also turn our gaze inward, addressing the often-overlooked emotion of self-anger. By examining how unmet expectations lead to self-condemnation, we reveal how these feelings impact self-worth and motivation. We uncover root causes of self-anger, such as an unwillingness to accept God's forgiveness, and offer biblical insights to guide us towards grace and peace. Visit our website for additional resources, and join us in building a supportive community dedicated to overcoming life's challenges. We invite you to share your thoughts, questions, and suggestions as we continue this journey together.
ABOUT JAMES AND LESSONS FOR LIFE
Are you longing to find answers to the deeper issues of life? Join Dr. James Long, Jr., a pastor, counselor, and university professor with over 30 years of experience. Hear James as he tackles some of life’s biggest questions and helps us find God’s solutions to life’s struggles. Learn the power of living by God’s grace and for His glory. Experience the joy of forgiveness and freedom found in Jesus Christ alone. If you are in search of freedom, you will love being part of this conversation. Subscribe, and enjoy the show!
Links
Website – https://jameslongjr.org/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/drjameslongjr
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/drjameslongjr/
Apple Podcast – https://jameslongjr.org/applepodcast
Google Podcast – https://jameslongjr.org/googlepodcast
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello everyone, it's James Long and welcome back to
Our Lunch and Learn.
We're looking forward toanother session here with you
talking about anger.
We've been going through thisstudy Uprooting Anger by Dr
Robert Jones, and in this seriesover the last several weeks
we've been exploring how theBible addresses anger from a
(00:22):
foundational, heart-focusedperspective.
We started by defining angerand looking at its place in our
lives.
We've examined both righteousand sinful anger and how beliefs
and desires and expectationsshape the way we respond to
life's challenges.
Hopefully it's been encouragingto you.
Hopefully you've been learningmore about yourself.
(00:43):
And so now today we're going tobe moving to our seventh in the
lesson, a seventh lesson, andit is lesson seven, and it's
dealing with anger against Godand against ourselves.
So now, as we delve into thistopic, we've talked about the
fact that anger is a complexemotion, often directed towards
(01:05):
something outward, but sometimeswe find ourselves directing it
towards God or even inwardly,towards ourselves.
Our goal today is to explorebiblical perspectives on these
two forms of anger, examiningour heart issues that lie
beneath them, and to understandhow we could find freedom and
restoration in the midst of them.
And we'll start by looking atwhy people feel anger at God and
(01:29):
when they experience it usuallyduring times of suffering or
injustice and then we'll look atthe anger towards oneself, how
it forms, why it's problematicand what scripture says about it
.
As we go through this sessiontoday, what I'm encouraging you
to think about are times whenyou might have felt disappointed
or frustrated with God, ortimes when you turned your anger
(01:51):
inward.
Listen to the lesson and let'slook for opportunities to
uncover it and to address thosefeelings in a way that are going
to honor God.
Let's pray here.
Father, I thank you for allthat you are and all that you do
.
We thank you for teaching usthrough this study, for the work
that you've been doing in ourlives, mold us and shape us and
(02:11):
change us into the image of yourson.
Help us to reflect you.
I pray today that you wouldhelp us to see that you are a
loving, gracious and kind God.
Help us to see the beauty ofyour gospel grace and help us to
see that anger towards you andanger towards ourselves will
never provide the freedom thatonly Christ can.
In Jesus' name, we pray Amen,okay, so now I want to talk a
(02:36):
little bit about this definition.
Now, if you remember, from weekone, we had talked about this
definition.
Let me see if I can pop it uphere for you.
Anger is our whole person,active response of a negative
moral judgment against perceivedevil.
Now, if you look at each pieceof that definition whole person
(02:56):
it's all of who you are.
It's an active response, it'snot passive.
It's a negative moral judgment.
You're making a judgment andit's against a perception of
evil.
Now, if you remember, we hadtalked about the fact that
sometimes the perception of evilis not accurate because
sometimes our perceptions arereally off course.
Now let's take that definitionand let's look at our anger
(03:20):
towards God.
So we need that definition as abackdrop.
Now we've talked about the factthat it's a negative moral
judgment against a perceivedevil.
It's an emotion thatencompasses our thoughts, our
feelings and even our actions,and when we respond to it, we
view something as wrong orunjust.
Now here's the issue.
When we apply this definitionto our anger towards God, we're
(03:43):
essentially saying that in ourperception, god has done
something morally wrong orunjust.
This feeling may be unsettling,but the important thing is to
acknowledge that if we have thisperception, there's something
deeper, underneath the surface.
We're struggling with our trustin God's character and trust in
God's actions.
By feeling anger towards God,we are, in effect, saying and
(04:05):
accusing him of doing somethingwrong or evil.
This challenges us to examineour beliefs and our expectations
of God, especially when thingsin our life don't go the way we
had hoped or the way we expected.
Are we holding on to ideas ofhow God should have acted, and
when he doesn't meet thoseexpectations, are we quick to
judge his action as unjust?
(04:26):
Now we need to take a momentand reflect on our own
experiences.
Have there been times where wefelt angry with God?
What was the underlying reason?
Often, it's not just thesituation.
It's our interpretation ofGod's role in what leads to the
anger that we have.
Now.
Recognizing this is a firststep towards healing and a
(04:46):
gospel-filled response.
I want you to think about thisdefinition by K Arthur.
K Arthur, biblical Bible'steacher, said this you get angry
at God because God did not dowhat you thought he should do,
or the way he should do it, ornot do it.
Now this observation hits homefor many of us.
Often, our anger stems from thefact of these unmet
(05:10):
expectations, whether it's abouttiming or method or outcome.
I want you to think about atime when you were struggling
with this, because each of uscarry expectations of God and
how he should have acted, basedon our desires, understanding or
perception of what was best.
When reality doesn't line upwith those expectations, it's
(05:30):
easy to feel a personal level ofdisappointment, maybe even
betrayal.
Now, this disappointment oftentriggers anger as we question
why didn't God intervene in theway I wanted him to?
Now, as we think about this,insight challenges us to reflect
on our own assumptions aboutGod.
Do we allow room for his wisdomwhich surpasses our
understanding?
(05:50):
Are we holding tight to our ownway and our own timelines?
When we acknowledge God's waysare not always aligned with ours
, we begin to see the need tosurrender those expectations and
trust his purposes.
I want you to consider an areain your life where things didn't
go as you planned or hoped.
Was there a moment of anger orfrustration that you directed
(06:11):
towards God?
Recognizing this is soimportant, because if you don't
recognize this, it can lead togreater anger, but recognizing
it can do this.
It can give you a deeper levelof understanding and it actually
could lead to a more resilienttype of faith.
Now I want you to consider twobiblical situations where two of
(06:31):
these men were angry with God.
First we'll look at Cain andthen we'll look at David.
Now, in Genesis, chapter 4, wesee the earliest example of
anger directed towards God.
It was Cain and his brother,abel had made an offering, but
God showed favor to Abel'soffering and not to Cain.
This ignited anger in Cain'sheart.
God responded by challengingCain's anger, warning him that
(06:55):
sin was crouching at his door.
Cain's anger wasn't just aboutjealousy towards Abel.
It was his frustration at God'sjudgment.
Cain wanted God to accept hisoffering on his terms, which
ultimately led him down a paththat was tragic.
He took his brother's life andhe had to fall under God's
judgment.
So his anger was not handled ingodly ways.
(07:18):
Then we think about David in 1Chronicles 13, verses 9-12.
We see David's anger after atragic situation While
transporting the Ark of theCovenant, uzzah reached out to
steady it, which led to Godstriking him down.
Now David was angry because hefelt that it was a harsh
judgment and that God's angerwas severe.
(07:39):
But David's anger stemmed fromhis perception of what seemed
like an excessive response toUzzah's well-intentioned actions
.
Now, his reaction, though,reveals what we sometimes place
on our own ideas of fairness,above God's standard of holiness
.
Now these stories show us thatthe anger at God often arises
(08:01):
from our clash between ourexpectations and God's actions.
Cain expected God to accept hisoffering regardless of his
heart condition, and David, onthe other hand, was upset by the
consequence he viewed as unjust.
Now, both of these exampleschallenge us to examine our own
expectations of God.
Are we willing to trust hiswisdom even when his actions
(08:23):
don't align with our ideas offairness and preference?
Now I want you to consider isthere a time in your life where
you felt angry with God, maybequestioning his decision or
fairness?
Now these biblical examplesremind us to bring these
feelings to God, seeking tounderstand his ways rather than
holding on to our resentment.
(08:44):
Let me give you some suggestionsof how you could deal with your
anger towards God.
Here are some solutions that Ithink are important for us to
consider.
First thing I want you to seehere is humbling ourselves
before God.
That's the first step indealing with sinful anger
towards God is humility.
Anger often resides when weassume that our understanding is
(09:06):
superior or that God's actionsmust align with our desires and
our logic.
Humbling ourselves meansacknowledging that God's ways
and His thoughts are higher thanours.
It talks about that in Isaiah55, verses 8-9.
It's an invitation to submit tohis wisdom and timing, even
when it's challenging or unclear.
(09:27):
The next thing I want you to seeis repentance.
Repentance is important Now,alongside with humility.
We're called to repentance,specifically repenting of our
unbelief and rebellion.
When we're angry at God, we'reoften harboring doubts about his
goodness or his wisdom or hislove.
Repentance here means turningaway from those doubts and
(09:48):
asking God to strengthen ourfaith.
It's a choice to trust in hischaracter rather than relying on
our limited perspective.
This isn't a one-time decision.
I want you to know that it's acontinual process.
Situations will arise where wewill tempt you to question God's
actions or timing, but throughhumility and repentance we
cultivate a heart that is inalignment with God's will, and
(10:12):
each time we choose to trust himover our emotions, we grow
spiritually mature and deepenour relationship with him.
Now I want you to think aboutthis.
I want you to reflect are thereareas in your life where you've
held on to anger against God,and how my humility and
repentance bring us closer topeace and understanding?
Now, if anger against God issin, how do we deal with our
(10:36):
doubts and our situations.
I want you to consider this.
I want you to look at a coupleof these passages.
See, we need to recognize thatquestions are normal in
suffering times.
This is an important piece ofthe puzzle.
As we face trials, it's naturalto have questions, especially
regarding God's role in oursuffering.
The Bible gives us examples ofgodly people who brought their
(10:58):
honest doubts and questions toGod without falling into sin.
One of them is Habakkuk.
Habakkuk was a prophet, andthis prophet was a great example
of one who struggled withlament and faith.
Now, in Habakkuk, chapter 1,verses 1 through 4, he openly
questions God, asking why thereis so much injustice and why God
(11:21):
seems to be inactive.
Now, if you jump down to verses12, chapter 1, verse 12, and
all the way through chapter 2,verse 1, we see Habakkuk
wrestling with God's plan.
Yet he continues to seekanswers from God directly,
showing a heart of faith evenamidst the confusion.
Now, by the end of the book, inHabakkuk, chapter 3, verses 18
(11:41):
through 19, he reaches the pointof trust, choosing to rejoice
in God despite the circumstances, despite the difficult trials
that he was going through.
We see something similar inPsalm chapter 13, one of my
favorites.
It's David's lament.
Now, in this Psalm, davidvoices his frustration with
God's seeming absence, askingthis question how long, o Lord?
(12:03):
But he concludes by expressinghis trust in God's unfailing
love.
This shows us that it ispossible to bring our questions
to God while maintaining respectand trust.
Now, these examples teach usthat it is acceptable to bring
our questions to God in a spiritof lament, as long as we
approach Him with faith, notaccusation in a spirit of lament
(12:26):
, as long as we approach Himwith faith, not accusation.
Lament allows us to voice ourstruggles without crossing into
simple anger.
It's about saying God I don'tunderstand, but I still trust
you.
Now, this trust builds ourrelationship with Him and helps
us to find peace, even amidunanswered questions.
Now, as we reflect on thesescriptures and others, let us
ask ourselves are we bringingour struggles to God in honest
(12:48):
lament, or are we allowing themto turn into resentment?
How might us, followingHabakkuk or David's example,
help us approach God duringtimes of hardship?
I want you to think about somecommon elements that we do find
when we struggle with angeragainst God.
First, suffering, when we seesuffering as a shared experience
(13:11):
.
Every single one of us in thisworld, in this universe,
struggles Now people throughoutthe Bible struggle.
They face challenges, pain,confusion and disappointment.
Suffering is not outside ofGod's plan, and even his closest
followers went through times,difficult times, of suffering.
This reality will allow us tounderstand that our struggles
(13:32):
are part of his bigger picture.
The second thing is prayer.
In each instance, we noticethat the individual brought
their concerns directly to God.
They didn't pull away from himor turn to other sources.
They voiced their questions andtheir doubts in prayer.
Now, this movement towards Godrather than away from him is the
defining characteristic offaithful lament.
(13:53):
Even when they didn'tunderstand, they sought God in
their confusion, which is soimportant.
Faith is another piece of thepuzzle.
In their suffering, they heldon to the foundational truths
about God, his goodness, hissovereignty and His promises.
They didn't allow theircircumstances to dictate their
beliefs about God.
Instead, they used their faithas an anchor.
(14:15):
Their faith didn't eliminatethe struggle, but it gave them a
way to endure it with hope.
I want you to consider this howmight we integrate these
elements acknowledging suffering, bringing them to God in prayer
and standing firm in faith?
How can that help us when weface difficult trials and
troubles in life?
(14:37):
I want you to think about twoother things.
Humility is also important.
A key element in biblicallament is humility, which is how
the individual approached God.
They didn't come accusing him.
They didn't come actingentitled to specific outcomes.
Instead, they expressed theirconcerns with reverence and
(14:57):
submission.
This humility shows anacknowledgement of God's
sovereignty.
They understood that, whilethey could bring their struggles
to Him, they ultimately trustedHis wisdom and His timing.
This is a reminder that we arecalled to approach God with the
same reverence even in ourhardest moments.
And then renewal Through theseexperiences of suffering and
(15:18):
prayerful lament, we see apattern of renewal.
Each person grew spirituallythrough their trials.
Their faith was tested, but itwas also deepened, leading them
to a closer, more refinedrelationship with God.
This growth didn't erase theirpain, but it transformed them
and brought them to a new levelof trust in God.
We too can experience thisrenewal as we lean into God
(15:40):
during difficult times.
I want you to reflect as wellhow might embracing humility and
seeking spiritual renewalchange the way we respond to our
struggles?
Okay, now we've talked aboutanger towards God and how we can
deal with it, why it happensand how we can deal with it.
So let's now go to the topic ofanger towards ourselves.
(16:02):
I want you to consider thesereasons why we get angry at
ourselves.
I want you to think about this.
When we think of anger, it'snatural to picture it as
something directed outward,towards another person or a
specific situation.
However, anger can just aspowerfully be directed inwardly,
(16:23):
aiming at ourselves.
Now, many of us have been therein moments where we blame
ourselves intensely forperceived failure or mistakes.
Now think of a time where youreplayed a moment in your mind,
berating yourself If only Ihadn't missed that shot.
I was thinking about that withbasketball when I played.
Or why did I say that?
(16:43):
Maybe you said that?
Or I've ruined everything withthat one choice.
Now, these thoughts reveal howoften we direct it at our whole
person, our active response of anegative moral judgment against
who, against ourselves.
Now, self-anger, according tothat working definition from
chapter one, involves a wholebeing.
(17:04):
It's your mind, it's your heartand your will, and it's
reacting negatively towards yourown actions.
We make judgments againstourselves, seeing ourselves as
wrong or a failure.
It robs us of somethingvaluable.
Self-anger isn't just aboutidle feelings.
It's about this whole personresponse, meaning it engages our
(17:24):
mind, it engages our emotion,even our physical energy, and it
often results in us beingemotionally drained, frustrated
or physically tense.
Now, I don't know if you feelthat way.
Now, it is important that wetake time to perceive the
thoughts and the feelings andthe beliefs that we struggle
with, and when we take what weperceive as a failure and turn
(17:47):
it into moral judgments againstourselves, it is as though we
are saying I should have donebetter, I've let myself down.
Now, at the core of this,self-anger often stems from a
belief that our actions or ourinaction has blocked us from
some good desire, that ouractions or our inaction has
blocked us from some good desire, something of like success or
approval or peace of mind.
(18:08):
Now, this is similar to whatRichard Baxter said in our first
chapter.
You remember he talked aboutanger as rising up in the heart
against an apprehended evil thathinders a desired good.
Now, I want you to notice thelanguage.
It's a negative, whole personresponse from the heart.
Self-anger is a deeper issuethan frustration.
(18:29):
It involves a moralcondemnation where we're not
just simply disappointed, we'reactually punishing ourselves
internally.
We might dwell on what we didor did not do, feeling that this
was a mistake and it reflectsour worth or our competence.
Now, this kind of angertypically stems from unmet
expectations or standards we setfor ourselves, and it often is
(18:51):
tied to an ideal of what wethink we should have acted in or
what we believe we deserve.
When reality doesn't line upwith those expectations, we turn
anger inward as a form ofself-blame.
Now I want you to take a momentright now.
I want you to think of a timewhere you directed anger towards
yourself.
What were the expectations orthe standards that you were
(19:13):
holding on to?
How did that self-directedanger affect your sense of worth
or motivation?
I want you to also considerthis.
Consider a time that you wereangry.
What desired good did you feelthat your action or inaction
hindered?
How does that shape yourperspective on your mistakes and
(19:34):
your failures?
That the Bible addresses thismatter of self-anger.
So it addresses it in fivespecific ways.
We're going to try tounderstand this.
Self-anger is an inwarddirection of frustration and we
need to ask ourselves what doesthe Bible say?
(19:54):
Now, unlike outward anger,which we often recognize and
address, self-anger can besubtle, often hidden behind
shame, regret and guilt.
But the Bible gives us insightinto why we feel this way and
how we are called to respond.
Self-anger usually arises fromsomething deeper within our
hearts a struggle to acceptforgiveness, a failure to see
(20:16):
our own sinfulness, anattachment to unmet desires,
unrealistic standards that weplaced upon ourselves, desires,
unrealistic standards that weplaced upon ourselves and above
God's word.
Now, what God's word does is itgives us wisdom for navigating
these inner battles, guiding usaway from self condemnation and
back to his grace.
Now let's look at five ways theBible addresses the root causes
(20:37):
of self-anger.
Now, each of these point us tohelp us to identify and to
confront the underlying beliefsand expectations that fuel this
self-directed anger.
Now, first is an unwillingnessto receive God's forgiveness.
This is one of the firstreasons people experience
self-anger is the inability orunwillingness to accept the
forgiveness of God.
(20:58):
This can especially be the casewhen we've sinned or feel
deeply remorseful or guilty.
Now, while it's natural to feelconviction for wrongdoing, the
danger comes when we allowfeelings to turn into punishment
and we impose anger towardsourselves rather than trusting
in God's grace.
Now, sometimes we may punishourselves because, in our
(21:19):
disbelief, we don't see God'sforgiveness as real or
sufficient.
We don't see God's forgivenessas real or sufficient.
We might think that the sin istoo big or too serious to be
forgiven, which actually is areflection of our belief in
God's power and His love.
We limit it Now.
The Bible calls us to receiveHis grace through repentance, to
trust His forgiveness ascomplete and final, and when
(21:41):
we're unwilling to release ourguilt, we end up holding onto
self-condemnation that onlyChrist has the authority to
remove.
Embracing His forgivenessundercuts the power of
self-anger and brings peace.
The second failure toacknowledge our sinful nature.
Another reason why we mightexperience anger is because we
(22:02):
don't fully recognize our sinfulnature.
This is often a matter of pridewhen we say I can't believe I
did that.
We're often shocked, notbecause we understand our
fallenness, but because wethought we were better than that
.
How many times have you thoughtthat?
Now, self-anger in this case isreally a failure to understand
the depth of our own sin?
(22:23):
The Bible teaches us the heartis deceitful above all things
and desperately sick, inJeremiah, chapter 17, verse 9.
Now, none of us is immune tothe sin's reach.
Now, recognizing our capacityto sin doesn't excuse our
actions, but it humbles us andkeeps us from an unrealistic
view of ourselves when weremember that Christ came
(22:46):
precisely because our sin natureis so harsh that we don't have
the ability to deal with it.
And then we're more likely,when we know that, to turn away
from sin and self-anger and leanon him for his grace and
transformation.
That leads to the third regretover lost opportunities.
Now, self-anger often surfaceswhen we feel we lost an
(23:10):
opportunity or failed to achievesomething so great, something
that we desired.
Now, when I was playing, Icould remember playing
basketball and I'd miss maybe acrucial free throw and I find
myself getting so frustrated.
Or I know friends that play thestock market and they regret
selling a stock too soon andthen all of a sudden they see
(23:30):
that stock has taken off.
Now these frustrations canbecome self-directed anger,
because we feel ruined and wefeel that we've ruined that
chance to gain somethingvaluable.
Now, in this case, anger comesfrom an underlying belief that
we should control ourcircumstances and our outcomes.
It's rooted in our desire forcontrol of our happiness and
(23:53):
success, which can become a formof idolatry.
We say that if only I had donethis, then things would be
different.
Now we're placing our trust inour actions rather than in God's
sovereign plan, and thesolution here is to recognize
and to repent of these misplaceddesires.
By surrendering our outcomesand desires to God, we release
(24:13):
the grip of regret andself-anger and we find peace in
knowing that God is in controland works all things together
for good.
So I want you to consider afourth reason.
A fourth reason is thatsometimes we live under our own
standard of righteousness.
Now, sometimes anger can stemfrom us setting our foundation
(24:36):
on our righteousness, our law,rather than embracing God's
grace.
This happens when we adopt aperfectionistic standard or take
other people's expectations andmake them our own.
When we do that, we inevitablyfall short of those unrealistic
ideals and we get angry atourselves.
Essentially, we're trying tocreate our own law, a law that
(24:57):
we can't keep, and the Biblewarns us against this, reminding
us that Christ alone is ourrighteousness.
Our task is not to live up toour self-imposed standards, but
to live in obedience to God'sword and to rely on his grace.
When we attempt to earnapproval based on our own
standards, we end up in a cycleof disappointment and
(25:18):
self-condemnation.
Recognizing God's standardsfrees us from this burden and
allowing us to live in freedomof His grace.
The fifth thing I want you tothink about is that sometimes we
act as our own judge.
This is the final way that canmanifest self-anger where we set
up ourselves as our own judge.
This happens when we assumeauthority to declare ourselves
(25:41):
as guilty or unworthy, a rolethat ultimately belongs to God
alone.
When we are angry withourselves, we essentially are
saying I'm my own judge, I findmyself lacking, but scripture
reminds us that God alone is ourjudge and he has already
rendered his verdict in Christ,and if we are in him, we are
declared not guilty.
We're declared righteous andforgiven and loved.
(26:04):
These are powerful truths toremember.
We don't have the authority tocondemn ourselves, because
Christ took that condemnationupon himself and his judgment
upon himself on the cross.
By surrendering our judgment toGod, we can release self-anger
and find rest in his mercy.
I want you to think about thesethings.
(26:24):
First, about God's grace.
Now, as we reflect on thisjourney of self-anger, we arrive
at this powerful and comfortingtruth God's grace is amazing.
God's grace is greater than allour struggles.
God's grace is vast, it isamazing.
God's grace is greater than allour struggles.
God's grace is vast, it isamazing.
It has magnitude that you can'teven imagine.
(26:45):
And God's grace is sufficientfor every single one of us, no
matter what mistakes you've madeor regrets that you hold.
His grace is vast enough tocover all of your failures.
God's forgiveness doesn't relyon us achieving perfection, but
it is grounded in His perfectand boundless grace.
Now, often our anger that wedirect at ourselves comes from
(27:08):
doubting this sufficiency,feeling as though our sins or
errors are too big to beforgiven.
But Scripture assures us thatGod's grace covers all sin.
There's nothing beyond Hisreach.
This forgiveness calls us toapproach God with a humble and
repentant heart when we confessour sins.
It's not aboutself-condemnation.
It is about embracing a newpathway and to experience His
(27:31):
mercy and to find freedom fromour guilt.
A repentant heart allows us torelease self-anger, aligning us
with God's forgiveness ratherthan holding on to self-judgment
.
Now here are several passages ofscripture I want you to think
about.
In Psalm 103, verse 12, ittells us as far as the east is
(27:51):
from the west, so far does heremove our transgressions from
us.
Now I want you to imagine atime where your sins are removed
completely from his sight.
He can't see them.
In Isaiah 1, verse 18, it saysthough your sins be like scarlet
, they can be as white as snow.
Now, this is beautiful imagery,and it shows that no sin is too
(28:15):
dark or too stained to becleansed by God's mercy.
And then in 1 John 1, verse 9, averse that many of us know.
If we confess our sins, he isfaithful and just to forgive us
of our sins and to cleanse usfrom all unrighteousness.
What we find there is, god'sfaithfulness is unshakable.
He's always ready to forgiveyou, and when he comes to you
(28:39):
with his grace, you come to himwith humility.
He comes to you with his grace.
Now I want you to rememberGod's grace and forgiveness are
always available.
Let go of your self-anger andlet his grace cover you
completely.
Okay, in conclusion, I want youto think about all of what we've
talked about today as we wrapup the session.
(28:59):
I want you to think about that.
Sometimes we have anger towardsourselves and sometimes we have
anger towards God, and I wantyou to remember that our journey
with anger is a path of growth,learning and transformation.
Whether you're grappling withthe painful circumstances or
wrestling with regret over yourown choices, god offers us grace
, forgiveness and renewal overyour own choices.
(29:21):
God offers us grace,forgiveness and renewal.
He invites us to bring thesestruggles to him with honesty
and humility and trust, evenwhen we don't fully understand
his purposes.
Now I want you to consider ifyou have some more questions, I
would love it.
If you go to our website,jameslongjrorg that's
jameslongjrorg For moreresources, you can find biblical
insights, practical tools tosupport you on this journey Head
(29:42):
over there.
There you'll find articles,videos, courses crafted to help
you overcome life's challengesand discover peace and purpose
in every season.
Now, if you've enjoyed thislesson today, I would love it if
you would subscribe to ourchannel.
Feel free to share yourcomments or questions below and
let us know if there are othertopics you would like us to
(30:03):
consider covering in the future,maybe future videos or courses.
We're building a community andyour involvement is essential in
helping us grow, so pleaseshare this channel with your
friends and family, anyone whoyou think might benefit from us
and help us reach even morepeople with this message, who
you think might benefit from usand help us reach even more
people with this message?
Now, looking forward to nextweek, we're going to be into
lesson number eight, and inlesson number eight, we'll be
(30:25):
looking at helping others dealwith anger.
We'll explore biblical guidanceand supporting friends, family
members.
We'll be addressing anger inways that reflect God's wisdom
and his love.
Join us then to dive into thepractical steps and spiritual
insights for fostering peace andunderstanding in our
relationships.
I want to thank you again forbeing with us.
(30:46):
I look forward to continuingthis journey with you.
Hope you have a great week.
Live by his grace and for hisglory, take care everyone.
Hello everyone, it's James Long and welcome back to
Our Lunch and Learn.
We're looking forward toanother session here with you
talking about anger.
We've been going through thisstudy Uprooting Anger by Dr
Robert Jones, and in this seriesover the last several weeks
we've been exploring how theBible addresses anger from a
(00:22):
foundational, heart-focusedperspective.
We started by defining angerand looking at its place in our
lives.
We've examined both righteousand sinful anger and how beliefs
and desires and expectationsshape the way we respond to
life's challenges.
Hopefully it's been encouragingto you.
Hopefully you've been learningmore about yourself.
(00:43):
And so now today we're going tobe moving to our seventh in the
lesson, a seventh lesson, andit is lesson seven, and it's
dealing with anger against Godand against ourselves.
So now, as we delve into thistopic, we've talked about the
fact that anger is a complexemotion, often directed towards
(01:05):
something outward, but sometimeswe find ourselves directing it
towards God or even inwardly,towards ourselves.
Our goal today is to explorebiblical perspectives on these
two forms of anger, examiningour heart issues that lie
beneath them, and to understandhow we could find freedom and
restoration in the midst of them.
And we'll start by looking atwhy people feel anger at God and
(01:29):
when they experience it usuallyduring times of suffering or
injustice and then we'll look atthe anger towards oneself, how
it forms, why it's problematicand what scripture says about it
.
As we go through this sessiontoday, what I'm encouraging you
to think about are times whenyou might have felt disappointed
or frustrated with God, ortimes when you turned your anger
(01:51):
inward.
Listen to the lesson and let'slook for opportunities to
uncover it and to address thosefeelings in a way that are going
to honor God.
Let's pray here.
Father, I thank you for allthat you are and all that you do
.
We thank you for teaching usthrough this study, for the work
that you've been doing in ourlives, mold us and shape us and
(02:11):
change us into the image of yourson.
Help us to reflect you.
I pray today that you wouldhelp us to see that you are a
loving, gracious and kind God.
Help us to see the beauty ofyour gospel grace and help us to
see that anger towards you andanger towards ourselves will
never provide the freedom thatonly Christ can.
In Jesus' name, we pray Amen,okay, so now I want to talk a
(02:36):
little bit about this definition.
Now, if you remember, from weekone, we had talked about this
definition.
Let me see if I can pop it uphere for you.
Anger is our whole person,active response of a negative
moral judgment against perceivedevil.
Now, if you look at each pieceof that definition whole person
(02:56):
it's all of who you are.
It's an active response, it'snot passive.
It's a negative moral judgment.
You're making a judgment andit's against a perception of
evil.
Now, if you remember, we hadtalked about the fact that
sometimes the perception of evilis not accurate because
sometimes our perceptions arereally off course.
Now let's take that definitionand let's look at our anger
(03:20):
towards God.
So we need that definition as abackdrop.
Now we've talked about the factthat it's a negative moral
judgment against a perceivedevil.
It's an emotion thatencompasses our thoughts, our
feelings and even our actions,and when we respond to it, we
view something as wrong orunjust.
Now here's the issue.
When we apply this definitionto our anger towards God, we're
(03:43):
essentially saying that in ourperception, god has done
something morally wrong orunjust.
This feeling may be unsettling,but the important thing is to
acknowledge that if we have thisperception, there's something
deeper, underneath the surface.
We're struggling with our trustin God's character and trust in
God's actions.
By feeling anger towards God,we are, in effect, saying and
(04:05):
accusing him of doing somethingwrong or evil.
This challenges us to examineour beliefs and our expectations
of God, especially when thingsin our life don't go the way we
had hoped or the way we expected.
Are we holding on to ideas ofhow God should have acted, and
when he doesn't meet thoseexpectations, are we quick to
judge his action as unjust?
(04:26):
Now we need to take a momentand reflect on our own
experiences.
Have there been times where wefelt angry with God?
What was the underlying reason?
Often, it's not just thesituation.
It's our interpretation ofGod's role in what leads to the
anger that we have.
Now.
Recognizing this is a firststep towards healing and a
(04:46):
gospel-filled response.
I want you to think about thisdefinition by K Arthur.
K Arthur, biblical Bible'steacher, said this you get angry
at God because God did not dowhat you thought he should do,
or the way he should do it, ornot do it.
Now this observation hits homefor many of us.
Often, our anger stems from thefact of these unmet
(05:10):
expectations, whether it's abouttiming or method or outcome.
I want you to think about atime when you were struggling
with this, because each of uscarry expectations of God and
how he should have acted, basedon our desires, understanding or
perception of what was best.
When reality doesn't line upwith those expectations, it's
(05:30):
easy to feel a personal level ofdisappointment, maybe even
betrayal.
Now, this disappointment oftentriggers anger as we question
why didn't God intervene in theway I wanted him to?
Now, as we think about this,insight challenges us to reflect
on our own assumptions aboutGod.
Do we allow room for his wisdomwhich surpasses our
understanding?
(05:50):
Are we holding tight to our ownway and our own timelines?
When we acknowledge God's waysare not always aligned with ours
, we begin to see the need tosurrender those expectations and
trust his purposes.
I want you to consider an areain your life where things didn't
go as you planned or hoped.
Was there a moment of anger orfrustration that you directed
(06:11):
towards God?
Recognizing this is soimportant, because if you don't
recognize this, it can lead togreater anger, but recognizing
it can do this.
It can give you a deeper levelof understanding and it actually
could lead to a more resilienttype of faith.
Now I want you to consider twobiblical situations where two of
(06:31):
these men were angry with God.
First we'll look at Cain andthen we'll look at David.
Now, in Genesis, chapter 4, wesee the earliest example of
anger directed towards God.
It was Cain and his brother,abel had made an offering, but
God showed favor to Abel'soffering and not to Cain.
This ignited anger in Cain'sheart.
God responded by challengingCain's anger, warning him that
(06:55):
sin was crouching at his door.
Cain's anger wasn't just aboutjealousy towards Abel.
It was his frustration at God'sjudgment.
Cain wanted God to accept hisoffering on his terms, which
ultimately led him down a paththat was tragic.
He took his brother's life andhe had to fall under God's
judgment.
So his anger was not handled ingodly ways.
(07:18):
Then we think about David in 1Chronicles 13, verses 9-12.
We see David's anger after atragic situation While
transporting the Ark of theCovenant, uzzah reached out to
steady it, which led to Godstriking him down.
Now David was angry because hefelt that it was a harsh
judgment and that God's angerwas severe.
(07:39):
But David's anger stemmed fromhis perception of what seemed
like an excessive response toUzzah's well-intentioned actions
.
Now, his reaction, though,reveals what we sometimes place
on our own ideas of fairness,above God's standard of holiness
.
Now these stories show us thatthe anger at God often arises
(08:01):
from our clash between ourexpectations and God's actions.
Cain expected God to accept hisoffering regardless of his
heart condition, and David, onthe other hand, was upset by the
consequence he viewed as unjust.
Now, both of these exampleschallenge us to examine our own
expectations of God.
Are we willing to trust hiswisdom even when his actions
(08:23):
don't align with our ideas offairness and preference?
Now I want you to consider isthere a time in your life where
you felt angry with God, maybequestioning his decision or
fairness?
Now these biblical examplesremind us to bring these
feelings to God, seeking tounderstand his ways rather than
holding on to our resentment.
(08:44):
Let me give you some suggestionsof how you could deal with your
anger towards God.
Here are some solutions that Ithink are important for us to
consider.
First thing I want you to seehere is humbling ourselves
before God.
That's the first step indealing with sinful anger
towards God is humility.
Anger often resides when weassume that our understanding is
(09:06):
superior or that God's actionsmust align with our desires and
our logic.
Humbling ourselves meansacknowledging that God's ways
and His thoughts are higher thanours.
It talks about that in Isaiah55, verses 8-9.
It's an invitation to submit tohis wisdom and timing, even
when it's challenging or unclear.
(09:27):
The next thing I want you to seeis repentance.
Repentance is important Now,alongside with humility.
We're called to repentance,specifically repenting of our
unbelief and rebellion.
When we're angry at God, we'reoften harboring doubts about his
goodness or his wisdom or hislove.
Repentance here means turningaway from those doubts and
(09:48):
asking God to strengthen ourfaith.
It's a choice to trust in hischaracter rather than relying on
our limited perspective.
This isn't a one-time decision.
I want you to know that it's acontinual process.
Situations will arise where wewill tempt you to question God's
actions or timing, but throughhumility and repentance we
cultivate a heart that is inalignment with God's will, and
(10:12):
each time we choose to trust himover our emotions, we grow
spiritually mature and deepenour relationship with him.
Now I want you to think aboutthis.
I want you to reflect are thereareas in your life where you've
held on to anger against God,and how my humility and
repentance bring us closer topeace and understanding?
Now, if anger against God issin, how do we deal with our
(10:36):
doubts and our situations.
I want you to consider this.
I want you to look at a coupleof these passages.
See, we need to recognize thatquestions are normal in
suffering times.
This is an important piece ofthe puzzle.
As we face trials, it's naturalto have questions, especially
regarding God's role in oursuffering.
The Bible gives us examples ofgodly people who brought their
(10:58):
honest doubts and questions toGod without falling into sin.
One of them is Habakkuk.
Habakkuk was a prophet, andthis prophet was a great example
of one who struggled withlament and faith.
Now, in Habakkuk, chapter 1,verses 1 through 4, he openly
questions God, asking why thereis so much injustice and why God
(11:21):
seems to be inactive.
Now, if you jump down to verses12, chapter 1, verse 12, and
all the way through chapter 2,verse 1, we see Habakkuk
wrestling with God's plan.
Yet he continues to seekanswers from God directly,
showing a heart of faith evenamidst the confusion.
Now, by the end of the book, inHabakkuk, chapter 3, verses 18
(11:41):
through 19, he reaches the pointof trust, choosing to rejoice
in God despite the circumstances, despite the difficult trials
that he was going through.
We see something similar inPsalm chapter 13, one of my
favorites.
It's David's lament.
Now, in this Psalm, davidvoices his frustration with
God's seeming absence, askingthis question how long, o Lord?
(12:03):
But he concludes by expressinghis trust in God's unfailing
love.
This shows us that it ispossible to bring our questions
to God while maintaining respectand trust.
Now, these examples teach usthat it is acceptable to bring
our questions to God in a spiritof lament, as long as we
approach Him with faith, notaccusation in a spirit of lament
(12:26):
, as long as we approach Himwith faith, not accusation.
Lament allows us to voice ourstruggles without crossing into
simple anger.
It's about saying God I don'tunderstand, but I still trust
you.
Now, this trust builds ourrelationship with Him and helps
us to find peace, even amidunanswered questions.
Now, as we reflect on thesescriptures and others, let us
ask ourselves are we bringingour struggles to God in honest
(12:48):
lament, or are we allowing themto turn into resentment?
How might us, followingHabakkuk or David's example,
help us approach God duringtimes of hardship?
I want you to think about somecommon elements that we do find
when we struggle with angeragainst God.
First, suffering, when we seesuffering as a shared experience
(13:11):
.
Every single one of us in thisworld, in this universe,
struggles Now people throughoutthe Bible struggle.
They face challenges, pain,confusion and disappointment.
Suffering is not outside ofGod's plan, and even his closest
followers went through times,difficult times, of suffering.
This reality will allow us tounderstand that our struggles
(13:32):
are part of his bigger picture.
The second thing is prayer.
In each instance, we noticethat the individual brought
their concerns directly to God.
They didn't pull away from himor turn to other sources.
They voiced their questions andtheir doubts in prayer.
Now, this movement towards Godrather than away from him is the
defining characteristic offaithful lament.
(13:53):
Even when they didn'tunderstand, they sought God in
their confusion, which is soimportant.
Faith is another piece of thepuzzle.
In their suffering, they heldon to the foundational truths
about God, his goodness, hissovereignty and His promises.
They didn't allow theircircumstances to dictate their
beliefs about God.
Instead, they used their faithas an anchor.
(14:15):
Their faith didn't eliminatethe struggle, but it gave them a
way to endure it with hope.
I want you to consider this howmight we integrate these
elements acknowledging suffering, bringing them to God in prayer
and standing firm in faith?
How can that help us when weface difficult trials and
troubles in life?
(14:37):
I want you to think about twoother things.
Humility is also important.
A key element in biblicallament is humility, which is how
the individual approached God.
They didn't come accusing him.
They didn't come actingentitled to specific outcomes.
Instead, they expressed theirconcerns with reverence and
(14:57):
submission.
This humility shows anacknowledgement of God's
sovereignty.
They understood that, whilethey could bring their struggles
to Him, they ultimately trustedHis wisdom and His timing.
This is a reminder that we arecalled to approach God with the
same reverence even in ourhardest moments.
And then renewal Through theseexperiences of suffering and
(15:18):
prayerful lament, we see apattern of renewal.
Each person grew spirituallythrough their trials.
Their faith was tested, but itwas also deepened, leading them
to a closer, more refinedrelationship with God.
This growth didn't erase theirpain, but it transformed them
and brought them to a new levelof trust in God.
We too can experience thisrenewal as we lean into God
(15:40):
during difficult times.
I want you to reflect as wellhow might embracing humility and
seeking spiritual renewalchange the way we respond to our
struggles?
Okay, now we've talked aboutanger towards God and how we can
deal with it, why it happensand how we can deal with it.
So let's now go to the topic ofanger towards ourselves.
(16:02):
I want you to consider thesereasons why we get angry at
ourselves.
I want you to think about this.
When we think of anger, it'snatural to picture it as
something directed outward,towards another person or a
specific situation.
However, anger can just aspowerfully be directed inwardly,
(16:23):
aiming at ourselves.
Now, many of us have been therein moments where we blame
ourselves intensely forperceived failure or mistakes.
Now think of a time where youreplayed a moment in your mind,
berating yourself If only Ihadn't missed that shot.
I was thinking about that withbasketball when I played.
Or why did I say that?
(16:43):
Maybe you said that?
Or I've ruined everything withthat one choice.
Now, these thoughts reveal howoften we direct it at our whole
person, our active response of anegative moral judgment against
who, against ourselves.
Now, self-anger, according tothat working definition from
chapter one, involves a wholebeing.
(17:04):
It's your mind, it's your heartand your will, and it's
reacting negatively towards yourown actions.
We make judgments againstourselves, seeing ourselves as
wrong or a failure.
It robs us of somethingvaluable.
Self-anger isn't just aboutidle feelings.
It's about this whole personresponse, meaning it engages our
(17:24):
mind, it engages our emotion,even our physical energy, and it
often results in us beingemotionally drained, frustrated
or physically tense.
Now, I don't know if you feelthat way.
Now, it is important that wetake time to perceive the
thoughts and the feelings andthe beliefs that we struggle
with, and when we take what weperceive as a failure and turn
(17:47):
it into moral judgments againstourselves, it is as though we
are saying I should have donebetter, I've let myself down.
Now, at the core of this,self-anger often stems from a
belief that our actions or ourinaction has blocked us from
some good desire, that ouractions or our inaction has
blocked us from some good desire, something of like success or
approval or peace of mind.
(18:08):
Now, this is similar to whatRichard Baxter said in our first
chapter.
You remember he talked aboutanger as rising up in the heart
against an apprehended evil thathinders a desired good.
Now, I want you to notice thelanguage.
It's a negative, whole personresponse from the heart.
Self-anger is a deeper issuethan frustration.
(18:29):
It involves a moralcondemnation where we're not
just simply disappointed, we'reactually punishing ourselves
internally.
We might dwell on what we didor did not do, feeling that this
was a mistake and it reflectsour worth or our competence.
Now, this kind of angertypically stems from unmet
expectations or standards we setfor ourselves, and it often is
(18:51):
tied to an ideal of what wethink we should have acted in or
what we believe we deserve.
When reality doesn't line upwith those expectations, we turn
anger inward as a form ofself-blame.
Now I want you to take a momentright now.
I want you to think of a timewhere you directed anger towards
yourself.
What were the expectations orthe standards that you were
(19:13):
holding on to?
How did that self-directedanger affect your sense of worth
or motivation?
I want you to also considerthis.
Consider a time that you wereangry.
What desired good did you feelthat your action or inaction
hindered?
How does that shape yourperspective on your mistakes and
(19:34):
your failures?
That the Bible addresses thismatter of self-anger.
So it addresses it in fivespecific ways.
We're going to try tounderstand this.
Self-anger is an inwarddirection of frustration and we
need to ask ourselves what doesthe Bible say?
(19:54):
Now, unlike outward anger,which we often recognize and
address, self-anger can besubtle, often hidden behind
shame, regret and guilt.
But the Bible gives us insightinto why we feel this way and
how we are called to respond.
Self-anger usually arises fromsomething deeper within our
hearts a struggle to acceptforgiveness, a failure to see
(20:16):
our own sinfulness, anattachment to unmet desires,
unrealistic standards that weplaced upon ourselves, desires,
unrealistic standards that weplaced upon ourselves and above
God's word.
Now, what God's word does is itgives us wisdom for navigating
these inner battles, guiding usaway from self condemnation and
back to his grace.
Now let's look at five ways theBible addresses the root causes
(20:37):
of self-anger.
Now, each of these point us tohelp us to identify and to
confront the underlying beliefsand expectations that fuel this
self-directed anger.
Now, first is an unwillingnessto receive God's forgiveness.
This is one of the firstreasons people experience
self-anger is the inability orunwillingness to accept the
forgiveness of God.
(20:58):
This can especially be the casewhen we've sinned or feel
deeply remorseful or guilty.
Now, while it's natural to feelconviction for wrongdoing, the
danger comes when we allowfeelings to turn into punishment
and we impose anger towardsourselves rather than trusting
in God's grace.
Now, sometimes we may punishourselves because, in our
(21:19):
disbelief, we don't see God'sforgiveness as real or
sufficient.
We don't see God's forgivenessas real or sufficient.
We might think that the sin istoo big or too serious to be
forgiven, which actually is areflection of our belief in
God's power and His love.
We limit it Now.
The Bible calls us to receiveHis grace through repentance, to
trust His forgiveness ascomplete and final, and when
(21:41):
we're unwilling to release ourguilt, we end up holding onto
self-condemnation that onlyChrist has the authority to
remove.
Embracing His forgivenessundercuts the power of
self-anger and brings peace.
The second failure toacknowledge our sinful nature.
Another reason why we mightexperience anger is because we
(22:02):
don't fully recognize our sinfulnature.
This is often a matter of pridewhen we say I can't believe I
did that.
We're often shocked, notbecause we understand our
fallenness, but because wethought we were better than that
.
How many times have you thoughtthat?
Now, self-anger in this case isreally a failure to understand
the depth of our own sin?
(22:23):
The Bible teaches us the heartis deceitful above all things
and desperately sick, inJeremiah, chapter 17, verse 9.
Now, none of us is immune tothe sin's reach.
Now, recognizing our capacityto sin doesn't excuse our
actions, but it humbles us andkeeps us from an unrealistic
view of ourselves when weremember that Christ came
(22:46):
precisely because our sin natureis so harsh that we don't have
the ability to deal with it.
And then we're more likely,when we know that, to turn away
from sin and self-anger and leanon him for his grace and
transformation.
That leads to the third regretover lost opportunities.
Now, self-anger often surfaceswhen we feel we lost an
(23:10):
opportunity or failed to achievesomething so great, something
that we desired.
Now, when I was playing, Icould remember playing
basketball and I'd miss maybe acrucial free throw and I find
myself getting so frustrated.
Or I know friends that play thestock market and they regret
selling a stock too soon andthen all of a sudden they see
(23:30):
that stock has taken off.
Now these frustrations canbecome self-directed anger,
because we feel ruined and wefeel that we've ruined that
chance to gain somethingvaluable.
Now, in this case, anger comesfrom an underlying belief that
we should control ourcircumstances and our outcomes.
It's rooted in our desire forcontrol of our happiness and
(23:53):
success, which can become a formof idolatry.
We say that if only I had donethis, then things would be
different.
Now we're placing our trust inour actions rather than in God's
sovereign plan, and thesolution here is to recognize
and to repent of these misplaceddesires.
By surrendering our outcomesand desires to God, we release
(24:13):
the grip of regret andself-anger and we find peace in
knowing that God is in controland works all things together
for good.
So I want you to consider afourth reason.
A fourth reason is thatsometimes we live under our own
standard of righteousness.
Now, sometimes anger can stemfrom us setting our foundation
(24:36):
on our righteousness, our law,rather than embracing God's
grace.
This happens when we adopt aperfectionistic standard or take
other people's expectations andmake them our own.
When we do that, we inevitablyfall short of those unrealistic
ideals and we get angry atourselves.
Essentially, we're trying tocreate our own law, a law that
(24:57):
we can't keep, and the Biblewarns us against this, reminding
us that Christ alone is ourrighteousness.
Our task is not to live up toour self-imposed standards, but
to live in obedience to God'sword and to rely on his grace.
When we attempt to earnapproval based on our own
standards, we end up in a cycleof disappointment and
(25:18):
self-condemnation.
Recognizing God's standardsfrees us from this burden and
allowing us to live in freedomof His grace.
The fifth thing I want you tothink about is that sometimes we
act as our own judge.
This is the final way that canmanifest self-anger where we set
up ourselves as our own judge.
This happens when we assumeauthority to declare ourselves
(25:41):
as guilty or unworthy, a rolethat ultimately belongs to God
alone.
When we are angry withourselves, we essentially are
saying I'm my own judge, I findmyself lacking, but scripture
reminds us that God alone is ourjudge and he has already
rendered his verdict in Christ,and if we are in him, we are
declared not guilty.
We're declared righteous andforgiven and loved.
(26:04):
These are powerful truths toremember.
We don't have the authority tocondemn ourselves, because
Christ took that condemnationupon himself and his judgment
upon himself on the cross.
By surrendering our judgment toGod, we can release self-anger
and find rest in his mercy.
I want you to think about thesethings.
(26:24):
First, about God's grace.
Now, as we reflect on thisjourney of self-anger, we arrive
at this powerful and comfortingtruth God's grace is amazing.
God's grace is greater than allour struggles.
God's grace is vast, it isamazing.
God's grace is greater than allour struggles.
God's grace is vast, it isamazing.
It has magnitude that you can'teven imagine.
(26:45):
And God's grace is sufficientfor every single one of us, no
matter what mistakes you've madeor regrets that you hold.
His grace is vast enough tocover all of your failures.
God's forgiveness doesn't relyon us achieving perfection, but
it is grounded in His perfectand boundless grace.
Now, often our anger that wedirect at ourselves comes from
(27:08):
doubting this sufficiency,feeling as though our sins or
errors are too big to beforgiven.
But Scripture assures us thatGod's grace covers all sin.
There's nothing beyond Hisreach.
This forgiveness calls us toapproach God with a humble and
repentant heart when we confessour sins.
It's not aboutself-condemnation.
It is about embracing a newpathway and to experience His
(27:31):
mercy and to find freedom fromour guilt.
A repentant heart allows us torelease self-anger, aligning us
with God's forgiveness ratherthan holding on to self-judgment
.
Now here are several passages ofscripture I want you to think
about.
In Psalm 103, verse 12, ittells us as far as the east is
(27:51):
from the west, so far does heremove our transgressions from
us.
Now I want you to imagine atime where your sins are removed
completely from his sight.
He can't see them.
In Isaiah 1, verse 18, it saysthough your sins be like scarlet
, they can be as white as snow.
Now, this is beautiful imagery,and it shows that no sin is too
(28:15):
dark or too stained to becleansed by God's mercy.
And then in 1 John 1, verse 9, averse that many of us know.
If we confess our sins, he isfaithful and just to forgive us
of our sins and to cleanse usfrom all unrighteousness.
What we find there is, god'sfaithfulness is unshakable.
He's always ready to forgiveyou, and when he comes to you
(28:39):
with his grace, you come to himwith humility.
He comes to you with his grace.
Now I want you to rememberGod's grace and forgiveness are
always available.
Let go of your self-anger andlet his grace cover you
completely.
Okay, in conclusion, I want youto think about all of what we've
talked about today as we wrapup the session.
(28:59):
I want you to think about that.
Sometimes we have anger towardsourselves and sometimes we have
anger towards God, and I wantyou to remember that our journey
with anger is a path of growth,learning and transformation.
Whether you're grappling withthe painful circumstances or
wrestling with regret over yourown choices, god offers us grace
, forgiveness and renewal overyour own choices.
(29:21):
God offers us grace,forgiveness and renewal.
He invites us to bring thesestruggles to him with honesty
and humility and trust, evenwhen we don't fully understand
his purposes.
Now I want you to consider ifyou have some more questions, I
would love it.
If you go to our website,jameslongjrorg that's
jameslongjrorg For moreresources, you can find biblical
insights, practical tools tosupport you on this journey Head
(29:42):
over there.
There you'll find articles,videos, courses crafted to help
you overcome life's challengesand discover peace and purpose
in every season.
Now, if you've enjoyed thislesson today, I would love it if
you would subscribe to ourchannel.
Feel free to share yourcomments or questions below and
let us know if there are othertopics you would like us to
(30:03):
consider covering in the future,maybe future videos or courses.
We're building a community andyour involvement is essential in
helping us grow, so pleaseshare this channel with your
friends and family, anyone whoyou think might benefit from us
and help us reach even morepeople with this message, who
you think might benefit from usand help us reach even more
people with this message?
Now, looking forward to nextweek, we're going to be into
lesson number eight, and inlesson number eight, we'll be
(30:25):
looking at helping others dealwith anger.
We'll explore biblical guidanceand supporting friends, family
members.
We'll be addressing anger inways that reflect God's wisdom
and his love.
Join us then to dive into thepractical steps and spiritual
insights for fostering peace andunderstanding in our
relationships.
I want to thank you again forbeing with us.
(30:46):
I look forward to continuingthis journey with you.
Hope you have a great week.
Live by his grace and for hisglory, take care everyone.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.