staying cool

How good are you about keeping your emotions in check?  Namely anger.   I believe it is simple to keep happiness and joy in check; I mean who ever says I have too much joy in my life?  Anger, sadness, and similar emotions tend to be the ones we struggle with the most. 

I found myself extremely angry this past week.  I can’t pinpoint a valid reason either.  That’s the worst part for me.   I have plenty of reasons why I got mad, but nothing that should have put me in the rage I was feeling internally.  I may not have shown it, but I was boiling inside.  I’m sure others around me at times could pick up on it but I think I kept it hidden well.

I am not proud of that.  I was weak and I failed to keep my cool.  I consider myself to be a Christian man.  I am far from perfect, but when I fall short of what I should be doing, especially over and over, I tend to beat myself up and normally end up being angry.  Why is that though?  Why do I resort to anger instead of asking for forgiveness or looking at the word for better instruction?  The answer to that question is that I am a weak man.

The bible has a lot to say about being weak. 

Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NLT) That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Psalms 73:26 (NLT) My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

There are a lot more, but these give you a good perspective.  When we are weak, it gives us the opportunity to allow God to give us strength.  If we were strong ourselves, we wouldn’t need God to help us, we would do it all on our own.  A lot of people rely on themselves to provide anything and everything they need.  I am slowly realizing that even the strength I thought I had, truly comes from God.  When I rely on myself, I mess it up pretty much every time.  I am beginning to see that the weakness I am experiencing, is just God’s way of humbling me enough for me to lean into trusting him more and more. 

I am digging deeper every week trying to become the man I should be in the eyes of God.  In doing that, I will be the best man to lead my family, lead at work, and hopefully be a leader in my community.  Not for me to be held up, but for me to be able to help others experience the transformation I have had in my life.  I am far from where I should be or where I could be, but I am getting better every day.  I just need to not allow myself to get consumed with anger so easily.

This post was a more difficult one for me to write and share.  Admitting where we fall short is hard, but it is necessary for growth.  This week I encourage you to take a hard look at yourself and find those areas where you could step it up and then start doing whatever it takes to be the best you.