Anger

Genesis 4:6 reads: "Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?"

Oftentimes, people we see in counseling struggle with anger. Anger dominates their life. For years they have habitually walked in indignation and outrage. Their wrath has released much destruction in their lives and the lives of others.

For some, their anger is bound up in hurts which have not been comforted. These people need healing by the Spirit of God.

But the anger of others is associated with not getting their own way. Like Cain, they expect their way of life to be accepted, approved, appreciated, and rewarded. But when what they expect doesn't happen, they are enraged.

The problem is that they have not yet truly yielded their way of life to Christ. They have not believed Jesus when He said, "He who loves his life loses it..." (John 12:25). They have not yet come to Him through the cross, giving up their rights and expectations, dying to themselves so that they might live unto God.

Our work in counseling is to help the angry person see and trust that God's way--the way of yieldedness, humility, and repentance--is better. For God is still saying:

"If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up. And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it" (Genesis 4:7).