Anger Like a Volcano
We as humans can be a lot like a volcano.
Volcanoes will give us warning signs when they are about to erupt. The lava/magma will begin to rise and will get to the boiling point before erupting and spilling out onto the surrounding area.
We also have warning signs when we are about to explode and erupt. Our anger becomes like lava/magma and will begin to rise until it reaches our boiling point. A volcano will also start to puff out smoke and ashes until it erupts.
We as humans also have those warning signs when we are getting angry. It might be clenching our fists, turning red in the face, or holding our breath. There are countless red flags and warnings when we are becoming angry.
When a volcano erupts it leaves a path of destruction from the hot lava/magma.
When we get angry and explode, we also leave a path of destruction. Just like lava/magma does not go back into the volcano after it cools down, neither do our words or actions go back into us when we calm down. The devastation can be quite significant.
We can’t take anything back after it leaves our mouths. We will see the aftermath and ugliness of destruction that our anger left behind. Our anger can often be sarcastic, passive-aggressive, blaming, verbally abusive, and retaliatory. We can even use our anger as an excuse. None of these ways of expressing our anger helps us connect well emotionally with others. When we explode with our anger, we will sabotage emotional intimacy. Anger expressed in these ways is dishonest and disconnected.
Psalms 37:8 - Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated it can only bring harm.
You can look at the destruction from a volcano and see all the magma/lava laying around and get discouraged. But then you can also think about the Hawaiian Islands and remember that God formed them from a volcanic eruption. God built something beautiful on top of all the ugliness that the aftermath left behind.
We can’t let the ugliness of our anger just leave a path of destruction, but instead, let’s allow God to work in our lives and build a beautiful island and put something beautiful on top of that anger. Let’s see how we can use our anger in a God-pleasing way. Let’s work to express our anger in ways that build emotional intimacy with others and can be used by God for His purposes. Can we work toward expressing our anger in honest, kind, fair, and direct ways?
James 1:12 - A man who endured trials is blessed because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those
who love Him.
Barry W
