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“Why are you so angry?”

For years, I was asked this question, and I even asked it of myself. But I had no answer. No clue.

Looking back on those difficult years, I can now see how I lived in a constant state of offense. Because of my own insecurities, everything someone said or did that did not sit well with me made me angry. Frustrated. Stressed. I felt devalued. I walked around with a huge chip on my shoulder, just waiting for someone to jostle it. And heaven help them when they did.

I read Psalm 119:165 over and over and wondered how it could be possible to live in peace and not allow anything or anyone to offend me. It seemed like a pipe dream. An unrealistic concept that was unreachable, at least for me.

But in His incredible love and mercy, God showed me the way out. It began with a choice, then learning the disciplines the Word teaches us about walking in love. Walking in the Spirit. Being quick to forgive. Extending grace. Putting others first. And most of all, pleasing the Lord.

The Bible tells us that offenses will come. It’s a given. It’s up to us what we do with them. We can either pick them up and carry the heavy load or refuse them.

If you find yourself getting angry, there’s a good chance you’ve allowed yourself to become offended. Don’t carry it. Forgive and let it go. It’s not worth the price you pay.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and AnnaKovalchuk.)