Life, Laughter and Harmony

For the past 45 days or so I have written a few thoughts down on anxiety, discouragement, blessings, and trust. And I have seen many other writers with similar ideas. Everyone is looking for peace in the middle of this "covid19 storm" but what I am beginning to notice is not anxiety alone, but a sprout (in some cases something larger than a sprout) of anger is beginning to replace the anxiety we felt at the onset of this pandemic.

In our pre-pandemic lifestyle we could remove ourselves from situations that aroused our anger. We could grab a coffee with a friend, go shopping, play on a sports team, blow off some stress at the gym or gather as a small group to give and receive emotional support. We could meet face to face with pastors, counselors and others in our life who could help us, as well as spending the largest part of our day out and about interacting with a variety of people.

However, as social isolation and social distancing continue and drag on, anger can and often does replace the initial emotions of fear, anxiety, uncertainty and safety. We begin to push one another's buttons - children aggravate each other and become combative with parents. And parents rather than seeking to disciple their children's hearts, begin to dole out punishments from a place of anger and frustration. Spouses lose their patience with one another. The strain of no school, routine changes or lack thereof, absence of work or the opposite, the strain of being an essential service worker all begins to take it's toll. We can look in God's word to gives us some insights as to why we are feeling and behaving as we are.

"What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong - you only want what will give you pleasure." (James 4:1-3)

Knowing what is causing our problem, is only the first step in changing it. And Ephesians 4:31 tells us just how to do that. "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior." What I really love here is that if we look at this part of the verse all by itself, we could incorrectly deduct that we are able, in and of ourselves, expected to not be angry. This is in no way what this verse is saying.

The first three chapters in the book of Ephesians tells us all about God's great grace, and how this grace changes everything for us when we truly understand it. God does not expect us to work harder in our own strength, he has in the second half of the verse laid out a plan for how we can remove the bitterness, rage, anger etc. "...instead - be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Did you catch that? How can we be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving when people are getting on our nerves? It is by filling our minds with what great grace Christ has and continues to offer to us, regardless of our poor attitudes and behaviors. It is by following his example to us that we can put off the anger and replace it with kindness.

The last interesting piece of information I will leave you with is medical science agreeing with the need to put anger aside. According to www.hotline.org, "anger puts your physical well being at risk. In the short term, anger can cause headaches, migraines, chest pains, aches and more. Over the long term, anger issues can further complicate pre-existing health conditions. It can also put you at risk for hypertension, high blood pressure, depression, and cardiovascular issues."

God wants for us to live a life of laughter, peace and harmony. When you spend time reflecting on his character, his grace in your life, worshiping him and loving well those he has graciously put in your life, you will begin to see changes only he could make happen.

"Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." Psalm 126:2