Huffing and Puffing and Blowing Them Down!

I was at lunch today and a trio at a booth across the room were talking and I overheard a small snippet of conversation:

"My brother is 23 years old. He has anger issues..."

Isn't it amazing how effortlessly that flows out of our mouths these days? "I have anger issues!" It sounds medical, clinical...

...an unfortunate waif beset by the dread disease "Anger Issues." A victim, if you will, of the horrible environmental and emotional stresses of a damaged youthhoodfulness.

I know some people who have really ticked me off lately. I've shot my mouth off a few times. I've wanted to throw tantrums...

I've wanted to fall in the floor, kick my heels and scream and cry until everyone who isn't doing what I want, when I want to do it, will either do things my way or suffer the horrible fate that they deserve (for not giving me what I want.)

I've been thinking I need to grow up. Maybe, I've been thinking, someone else should be allowed to enjoy their life besides just me? Maybe I've needed to stop being immature and turn some of these things over to God.

Y'know, I can't help but believe that if I would exercise some self-control and turn to God for deliverence from those things beyond my control, I'll be a happier and better man. Thank goodness I don't have "anger issues", because if I did I wouldn't be able to change.

O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!”

- Isaiah 30:19-22