How Is Anger Affected by Control Issues?

There are occasions when it seems every area of life is producing stress or anger. Stress is a common trigger for anger and builds up over a given period of time. God’s word warns against letting the sun set on anger, for tomorrow will bring new stress to be layered in on what you went to sleep with the night before.

So own up to stressful, angry feelings before closing your eyes to sleep. Sleepless nights often are caused by stress and anger internalized with no acceptable solutions. Even if sleep comes immediately, peaceful slumber may be fleeting as the mind resumes seeking solutions to the day’s stressful events.

Stress and anger can be relieved by realizing your lack of control in particular situations. Entrusting into God’s care what you can’t control is honorable. Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are burdened down and I will give you rest.” Responding to Jesus’ call will help you continue celebrating Thanksgiving weekend.   

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This day belongs to the Lord! Let us celebrate and be glad today. …Tell the Lord how thankful you are, because he is kind and always merciful.

~Psalm 118:24,29 Contemporary English Version

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Does Idleness Reflect Laziness?

Habit formation is second nature to human beings. Think for a moment about the things you do on a routine basis that are helpful and good. Include those that are not so good. Most Americans have a habit of collecting "stuff," things believed to be useful and then put away for the future.

A personal habit could be wearing clothes for only one season because a person’s job or profession requires current fashion. Behaviors that become a habit often originate out of a healthy need, but then find a permanent life of their own long after the need ceases to exist.

Have you thought of idleness as being a habit? I’m not referring to resting or relaxing but to purposely killing time. Ecclesiastes 10:18 offers this analogy: “If a man is lazy, his rafters sag; if his hands are idle, his roof leaks.” When a behavior is viewed from God’s perspective, conviction leads to corrective action and positive change.  

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…We hear that there are some people among you who live lazy lives and who do nothing except meddle in other people’s business. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command these people and warn them to lead orderly lives and work to earn their own living. But you, friends, must not become tired of doing good.

~2 Thessalonians 3:11-13 Good News Bible

 

[Jesus said,] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

~Matthew 11:28 New International Version 

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How Can We Cope with Unhappiness?

 Unhappiness at some level is inescapable regardless of financial status or social astuteness. So many childhood stories close with, "And they lived happily ever after." Only in fairy tales is the future perfect and assured. In reality, unwanted challenges and problems are a normal part of life.

Unhappiness is often associated with feeling entrapped by situations or relationships where change seems impossible. Whatever the cause of unhappiness, the temptation to accept it as permanent may appear as the only option. So many individuals believe this is what God intended for them.

From the beginning people have struggled with evil in the world and within themselves. While God permits us to suffer the hardships of temptation, he helps us cope with the ensuing unhappiness by forgiving us. Believe Jesus came to seek and to save the lost by offering you his unfailing love and mercy. This is the pathway to joy and peace.            

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[Jesus said:] If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.

~Matthew 11:28 Contemporary English Version

 

Many sorrows come to the wicked, but abiding love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. So rejoice in him, all those who are his, and shout for joy, all those who try to obey him.

~Psalm 32:10-11 The Living Bible

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Breaking Down Walls of Confinement

A false sense of self-confidence builds a bridge to conflict when it includes an assumption that those with whom we share a relationship need to be dominated and controlled. Scare tactics and fear are the usual means for obtaining dominance and control. This form of leadership does not elicit trust and faith.

While every family needs boundaries as instituted by God’s word, special consideration must be given to individual differences as well as freedom of choice when appropriate. Creating dependency through an inordinate need to dominate will ultimately bring about the need to escape what is defined as emotional captivity.

Too much rigidity builds walls of confinement which stifle love and appreciation that should be freely expressed in a family. The Apostle Paul assures us that Jesus Christ, who is our peace, can break down dividing walls of hostility when we surrender to his plan and purpose for us. Jesus said, “Come to me you who are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.”  

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May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

~ Romans 15:13 New International Version

Christmas: Great Expectations - Part 3

Merry Christmas!

This wonderful season awakens great expectations and stirs up hope like no other time of the year. Christmas can yield many surprises for children and adults who receive gifts they didn't believe were possible. As we center our expectations concisely on the coming of Christ Jesus, it inspires us thank God for his great gift to us.

For many families this is a time great struggle and change related to situations that were beyond what they expected. Jesus, our loving and caring Shepherd, invites you to come to him, everyone that is burdened, sad or grieved, for he promises to be your comforter. This is God's gift to you today and always. May God bless you.