Out Of Control

Control

Living Free Thursday

Beloved, have you ever been out of control? Confession time: I do not think well on my feet. I have a character flaw, when there is conflict, immediately I think you are right and I am wrong. When there is conflict and I am unable to think, I open my mouth and end up sounding defensive.

Beloved, have you ever been so angry that the words that come out of your mouth are full of venom?  Recently. I was out of control with feelings of anger. And I certainly was out of my control. I do not do anger well. It takes a lot to get me angry but when I am angry, oh my! The worse part is there are usually tears.

Beloved, have you ever been so full of doubt and fear? So afraid? Questioning whether God is present much less will he forgive you, continue to love you? Recently, I had those doubts.

Green with envy, red with rage. Passionate feelings that encompass jealousy and anger. What stirs up those emotions for you? A friend’s betrayal, a loved one who turns against you, a peer at work turns against you, or a boss at work who doles out criticism.

Jesus cleanses the temple demonstrating strong emotion however he was righting a wrong in Matthew 21:12-13

And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”

The Lord shares prophecy about Nineveh in Nahum 1:1-7

A prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. The Lord’s Anger Against Nineveh The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade. The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him. The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.

Notice that the Lord had anger against Nineveh. God’s word is that the Lord is a jealous and avenging God. Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” Beloved, this has been my life verse, I claim that He cares for me because I trust in Him.  Do you know that God is good, do you know Him as a refuge in times of trouble, do you know He cares for you. The question is, do you trust in Him?

Whether you are in conflict, or having feelings of anger, God is present in your life.  Graciously, He is working in my life. I have less conflict in my life as I gave up a management career five years ago. So much healing in my life in this area, traumatized by words, “May I see you in my office?” Now when I hear those words, there is just a moment I think the worst and then I snap out of the trauma and say, “Sure, when can we meet?” Because I know that I am doing a good job.

God is so amazing, He took care and answered my prayers and the object of my anger was removed from my life. I am in awe that when I was out of control, God was in control. He made something beautiful out of my situation. Do I believe in answered prayer? Oh yes. I am living proof that He can take an ugly emotion of anger, and once I confessed this sin, He stepped in and delivered this out of control, saint. You see I am a saint who sometimes sin, but I serve a God that is just and forgives me of all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9.

Have you ever had feelings of envy, jealousy, anger? Are you fearful? filled with doubt? When you are angry, who do you turn to?

Celebrate in God’s Love with this song, “Something Beautiful.”

Father God, Steven Curtis Chapman captures that we are something beautiful before you. Lord, you love us even when we do not handle conflict well, you love us when we are angry, or when we are depressed and we are turning anger inward. Lord, I love you so much for answering my prayer. Lord when I am out of control, you are in control. God you are good all of the time. I praise you because you gave us emotions and a free will. Lord I can depend on you and give you my negative emotions because God you are in control.