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Anger and Rage

Anger, at the right place and time, is a God-given impulse. But like any other urge, it comes with responsibilities, to be discerning and wise, to exercise self-control, and to still care about those around you, even in the midst of your anger.

Anger can get the better of any of us under certain conditions. But for some people, anger becomes a way of life – eventually, all paths lead to anger. This leaves other people mistrustful and weary, so the person struggling with anger is further distanced from the help and support they most need. It is a self defeating cycle that leaves broken relationships in its wake.

Despite all appearances, rage almost always hides feelings of powerlessness. Rage is the outworking of a belief that a person must aggressively protect oneself at all cost, even when there is no real and current threat to defend against. Pervasive anger is about persistent powerlessness; and powerless almost always goes hand-in-hand with deep-seated feelings of inferiority or worthlessness. After time, this anger can takes on a life of its own, and the anger simply becomes a way of controlling others for one’s own selfish gain… but it doesn’t have to end that way.

Wherever you or a loved one may be in this process, there is hope for a transformed life free of the corrosive effects of anger. God is capable of redeeming hardened habits of the heart to bring about surrender, so that the damaging experience of powerlessness can be transformed into a courageous posture of faith.

"Most people stereotype anger by assuming that it always results in shouting, slamming fists, or throwing things. However, anger is not that one dimensional. In fact, all of the [responses] below represent feelings of anger. Shutting down… getting very tense… feeling frustrated… calling it quits…"

- Les Carter and Frank Minirth

Counseling Services

Anger and Rage

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