Robbed by Rage
You may have had an unpleasant experience that left you cheated, ashamed, insulted or hurt. It is not always your desire, but sometimes such may make you feel angry. But what next?
What happens after the anger becomes crucial as it does have the power to make the victim guilty of another offence depending on how they react. The actions that follow require carefulness so that things do not get worse.
“You may not be able to control the people that make you angry, but you can control the anger.”
There are many reasons why people do what they do, but the fact is that it does hurt regardless of their justification, but the way we handle it, to a large extent, determines how it affects us from that point. You may not be able to control the people that make you angry, but you can control the anger.
Many things people do could make you angry, but you can choose to act in a way that will not make things worse for you. You can choose not to be robbed by the situation or, at the very least, minimize the loss. No one will punish you for being angry, but your anger will punish you for not controlling it.
Simeon and Levi, sons of Jacob, had an experience that went on to define their future. They had a sister called Dinah, who got abducted and raped by Shechem, a Hivite prince. The two brothers were upset about the situation—burned with anger and reacted to what he did. They attacked the city of the perpetrator and murdered every man in it, also taking away their wives and children. The whole population paid for the wrong of Shechem even though they did not do anything wrong—they did not support his actions. You may wonder how the brothers of Dinah felt afterwards and if their actions positively changed the situation that prompted their violent step.
Jacob, their father, was not happy with their reaction. He was also not glad about what happened to her daughter but probably felt uneasy about the extent to which they went. He did not condone the evil done, but the actions fuelled by anger brought permanent and long term damaging consequences.
“When you decide to fuel your speech with anger—you will discover that it is one fire that becomes difficult to quench”
He knew the implications of the actions in their life and distanced himself from their acts of violence. It did not just impact the sons but also the tribe they each represented, as each son represented a tribe that maintained the identity of their respective tribes. They gradually dwindled in number and sank into a position of insignificance among the other tribes. Their father knew the impact of such actions—it was true even after many years—they were scattered and divided.
Do you want many years of regret? The easiest way is to speak uncontrollably every time you are angry. When you decide to fuel your speech with anger—you will discover that it is one fire that becomes difficult to quench. It is never a good place to be, so do all you can to avoid the trap with lasting consequences.
Many have reacted in anger only to find themselves in prison for their uncontrolled action. Some people perhaps responded, saying things they would later regret. For some, they did permanent and irreversible damage in reaction to a temporary problem. They were the victims, but their actions made them perpetrators of another evil which later defined their lives. Everyone in such a position wants justice and not imprisonment, but how you react to the situation may determine what you get.
You can choose not to be robbed because you have the power to do so, if you are still struggling, you can seek help because it is possible to be free.
[pvcp_1]
