Anxiety and Anger

The other day I read an excerpt of a psalm that annoyed me. It said: “Do not fret at the man who prospers; a man who makes evil plots to bring down the needy and the poor.” How can we not fret over people who make evil plots to cause harm?!

Anxiety and anger are legitimate emotions. We cannot just sit back and feel nothing with all the injustice in the world! It seems so many get away with wrongdoing, while we wait for God’s justice to prevail. (Frankly, patience is not my strong suit.)

However, had I taken the time to contemplate the entire psalm and our Lord’s teachings, I may have reacted differently. The Bible does not tell us to feel nothing. But, if all we do is get anxious and angry, we accomplish no good. Therefore, “Do not be provoked, it brings only harm” [Psalm 37:8].

Letting Go

Granted, we have many reasons to be anxious and angry today. Letting go of those emotions is difficult. However, as St. Paul wrote: “All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. [And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ” [Ephesians 4:31–32].

Remember, Jesus Christ had bouts with anger and anxiety. He became angry when he entered Jerusalem and saw the temple area being turned into a marketplace. The hypocrisies and sins of the scribes and Pharisees also angered Jesus. And anxiety was with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane and when he suffered on the cross, feeling forsaken by God.

Yet, anxiety and anger never surpassed the greatness of Christ’s merciful love and compassion. With his mercy, our Lord carried out his Father’s will of redemption and salvation. How else could he have said from his cross: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” [Luke 23:34].

Healing

Left unchecked, anxiety and anger lead to hate; hate leads to evil; and evil leads to destruction. Therefore, “Do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil” [Ephesians 4:26–27]. Remember, letting go does not mean giving up our concerns for what is happening in our society. It means clearing our body, mind, heart and soul for God’s healing graces.

With clarity and healing, we see what we are meant to do. No doubt, being compassionate and forgiving can be hard, especially when we have been personally harmed. But if we do not forgive, our wounds never fully heal. The anxiety and anger remain, creating a barrier between our lives and God.

Consider this: the closer we are to God, the greater the grace we receive for our daily living and sharing in our world. While we cannot personally right all wrongs, we can light the way to God’s justice and peace. In that light, we can pray to change the hearts and minds corrupted by evildoings.

Prayer and Good Works

So often I hear people say we have to do more than just pray. We need good works. However, prayer is essential for good works, restoring strength and energy sapped by anxiety and anger.

Therefore, our prayers and good works are greatly needed, especially as fewer people believe in God. We have no time to fret. Can any of us by worrying add a single moment to our lifespan? Instead, may we let our Lord’s merciful love and compassion flow through us every day. Amen.