Sometimes, my anger gets me into mischief. Once, on a science field trip, I railed at my students for relishing nature instead of doing their assigned observations.
“I can’t believe you didn’t complete your workbooks. Don’t you know this is a science class, not a fun field trip? I am so frustrated. Your lack of effort and focus really disappoints me!”
I scowled into their shocked and hurt eyes before turning to the bus driver and asking him to take us back to school.
But then, a godly administrator in that Christian school spoke with me about my response. He called my anger my “bear in the box” and encouraged me to work this through with my students.
We did. I asked for forgiveness, recognizing my overzealous delight in tasks and their deadlines. They had actually done quite a bit of science on that excursion. Over time, our classroom humor about the bear in the box humbled that bear until it was gentled and rarely troubled us again.
King Saul had a similar bear, and God gave him a precious, godly, and kind son who offered to help him keep that bear locked in his box. Instead, Saul’s fear that David would betray him pushed that king to become a murderous betrayer—to the point of hurling a spear at his own son.
We each have negative traits God wants to address, curtail, and transform. While our sin—like Saul and me—spews accusation, hatred, and shame, Christ, like Jonathan and my administrator, offers humble freedom and peace.
Think of areas where the Spirit of God seeks to bring about your freedom.
Kim Robinson is a former schoolteacher who has taught in rural and central Oregon, Alaska, and with Mercy Ships in Africa. She currently lives in Salem, Oregon, where she is delighted to serve the Lord as a mom, grandma, writer, copy editor, and encourager of others.