Jonah 4:4 NKJV

Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

So while I’ve known for a while that I had “Anger Issues,” I really thought that they were limited after all.  Only to find out that my method of dealing with anger was flawed. My process of “Be angry, and do not sin.” I pinned up a lot of anger attempting to “not let the sun go down on your wrath,” but I realized that I was just stuffing true feelings down in a effort to be spiritually mature by avoiding conflict (Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men).  It was really just a way for me to stay away from confrontation and keep myself away from rejection.  

So, let’s get back to text in Jonah, Then the Lord said, Right at the start, the Lord is talking directly to Jonah.  “Is it right for you to be angry?” Why was Jonah angry?  

The Lord sent Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh (their wickedness has come up before the Lord). His anger was because he did not believe that the people of Nineveh deserved God’s grace.  It somehow was not fair to him that they might be saved.  

Isn’t that really why we get angry, someone does something we dont agree with and we want them to be punished.  That is what Jonah was feeling.  

But let’s answer the Lord’s question.  “Is it right for you to be angry?”  We need to think about who is asking the question.  If there is anyone who has the right to be angry, it would be the Lord, but “His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life (Psalm 30:5).”  Therefore the answer is NO.  Nor should our anger be poured out on those closest to you who are not the source of that anger.   

The great thing is that the Holy Spirit can us deal with our anger; through prayer, the Word of God and there is also therapy or anger management counseling.