Why Are We So Angry?

The other day I went to my local Dollar General to pick up poster board that I needed for work. I was happy when I was able to get a parking spot right in front of the store because 90 degrees, high humidity and having to wear a mask, is pretty irritating, so I couldn’t wait to get inside with the air condition. Yes, I am a person who follows store policy and wears a mask, please do not judge. I used to be a smoker, but I never walked into a store smoking a cigarette, I always respected the rules.

With that being said, after shopping I left the store and entered my car, I looked in all directions before pulling out of the parking spot I was in. There was no one behind me but I noticed a car pulling in the parking lot from the street, which was quite a ways from where I was pulling out. I backed my car out straight, and by the time I put it in drive there was a car stopped right in front of me. Driving it was a man wearing his blue rubber gloves, waiving his hands all around, refusing to let me pull out. This vision played through my mind over and over, since then and I’m still not sure what I did wrong. However, I put my hands in the air and motioned with my shoulders lifted and said, “WHAT?” I started to get really frustrated and I wanted to get out and confront the man, but then I came to my senses and put my car in reverse and backed up far enough away from him, then proceeded to go forward. As I drove by, I was very tempted to stop beside him and ask, “What is your problem?” But I came to the conclusion it wasn’t worth my time giving in to what was obvious, that he was just trying to provoke me. So I just drove by him shaking my head and asking myself “what is wrong with people?” I confess, I was very angry and disgusted.

The next day I thought about the episode in the parking lot, and I was saddened. I also began thinking about things going on in our country today, and how I stopped listening, and looking at social media because of the negativity and anger it was spewing. All of it made me wonder to myself, “Why are people so angry?” I began to have a lot of questions like; “Did I not pull out fast enough for that man in the parking lot? Did he have a bad morning, and wanted to take it out on someone? Why is there so much hate in our country? Why do people feel like they are never getting treated fairly? Why can’t we share our opinions and feelings, about religion and what we believe, or the way of life a person chooses to live, and it be ok? Why can’t we just be kind when we don’t share the same views? Why do we always gossip about others? Why do we feel we are never making enough money and deserve more? Why is there so much violence?” Weren’t we a country who took pride in “One Nation Under God?” Then why the divide?

My mind continued to race as I tried to come up with some reasonable answers, but I just kept coming up with more questions.  “Are we that selfish of a people that when we can’t get our own way we become like spoiled brats, and it causes us to lash out at others?  Are we that narrow minded to think that our way of thinking, and our way of living, is how the rest of the world should be? Are we so filled with pride that we refuse to apologize or admit when we are wrong? Are we filled with so much fear of losing something that we react in an unreasonable manner?

 I know as a Christian about “The Fall of Man,” and because of it evil reigns in the world, and I don’t doubt the devil has great influence in the world, but that doesn’t mean we have to give in to it. Whether you’re a Christian or not you have a choice.

As Christians we are just as guilty of becoming angry and losing our temper, as the rest of the world. However, we are called by the Lord to be different, a peculiar people.  So what can we do differently when anger is rising up within us? If we are God’s people than we ought to go to God in our anger, and we can start with seeing what God’s word says about anger. In Ephesians 4:26 God says;

“Be angry and do not sin; do
not let the sun go down on
your anger”

Ecclesiastes 7:9;
“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for
anger lodges in the heart of fools.”

Proverb 29:22;
“A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to
anger causes much transgressions.”

Proverbs 15:1;
“A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 14:29;
“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”

As we see in God’s word, it’s OK to feel angry but it’s not OK to react to it in a harmful way. When we react to our anger, we not only act foolishly but we also hurt the person we are angry with, along with God and ourselves. Instead let’s go to God with our anger and ask Him to help us follow Him the way Psalm 86:15 says He reacts;

“But you, O Lord, are a God
merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and
abounding in steadfast love
and faithfulness.”