It Starts Small

Yesterday I wrote about preparing our hearts every morning for forgiveness. Forgiveness is an action. It is continued cooperation with Jesus everyday of our lives. It produces kindness and compassion through the Holy Spirit to walk in a spirit of forgiveness. Yet, even though we we prepare each day to forgive, there are moments that pop up that we can not shake how hurt we are.

I was taught to misuse Ephesians 4:26-27:

²⁶ Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and don’t give the devil an opportunity.

It was convenient to pull that verse out when someone no longer wanted to talk about the conflict going on. There was no time out on the conversation, we needed to solve the issue right now. But in the journey of discovering true forgiveness I discovered “on your anger“. It is not about resolving conflict before the sun goes down. It means do not lay in bed and let anger consume your mind. If it does, it will come out of my mouth and reveal who or what is mastering me.

When we search God’s Word about anger, our first reference is in Genesis.

² She also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. ³ In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, ⁵ but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent. ⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? ⁷ If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” ⁸ Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

What I love about God’s Word is that it is layers upon layers of truth. We are all familiar with this story. the Cain and Abel. The First Murder. I had missed a very important detail hidden within the Word of God. In between Cain getting angry for God not accepting his sacrifice and him murdering his brother, God came and spoke to Cain. The Lord of Almighty came and asked Cain, why are you so angry? If you did what was right, I would have accepted your sacrifice. But if you do not do what is right, sin is at the door waiting to snatch you up, but if you do what is right you will master it.

Suddenly, this story was no longer about a murder. It went even deeper. God was speaking to me. He was showing me that what my mind is consumed with, makes its way to my mouth, and it is revealing the real source of what is driving my decisions. God reveals what happens when we let the sun go down on “it” (our sin).

Mind: Cain refused to humble himself and allowed this anger to fester inside him.

Mouth: Cain was not willing to let forgiveness spill from his mouth.

What ruled him: The sin crouching at the door was what was deeply ruling over him. It consumed him and he murdered his brother. He gave his feelings the right to dictate his actions, even after God came and talked to him.

This is one of the most powerful reminders to us, to not let anger and frustration rule over us. Easier said than done, trust me, Friend, I understand! It is hard when hurt is so fresh or frustration on going. But God is an awesome God! He gives us these verses in Ephesians that ties everything together. We can remember, when emotions rise, we need to give time to pause and let God rule over any potentially dangerous and damaging hurts that can consume us.

We can pray to our Heavenly Father that we need His forgiveness to flow from our hearts. We need to pray for His Spirit to work in us to sweep our hearts clean. This is not a way to make light the hurt and pain. It puts it in His hands so we can better process it.

Most of us would not to the extent Cain did, but pause for a moment to reflect your own thoughts and imaginations that have come forward in regard to your own hurt and pain. Perhaps through hurt and pain there have been devastating words spoken, actions taken in the heat of anger and frustrations. We need to address our own feelings of anger and unforgiveness. Take it to your heavenly Father today.

Forgiveness Part 1: Why is Forgiveness and Double Edged Sword?
Forgiveness Part 2: When Unchangeable Feels Unforgivable
Forgiveness Part 3: The Cure for a Heavy Heart
Forgiveness Part 4: My Anger
Forgiveness Part 5: Transformed Feet and Eyes