Turn That Frown Upside Down

Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm.

Psalm 37:8 (NLT)

I’m convinced that the world (including all of us) have a big problem with anger. It doesn’t matter if it’s a blog, vlog, podcast, newspaper, or TV news show, we are told that there are many things which we need to be angry about. We don’t like the president? Let’s talk about how evil he is non-stop, every day. We don’t like congress? Let’s diss on them too. We don’t like that people treat us poorly? We should return the favor and put them down. We don’t like the way our boss manages us? Let’s talk smack about him behind his back. We don’t like the music in the church? Let’s diss the pastor and the elder team for allowing it. In short, anger is creeping in to every facet of our lives – and it’s ruining them.

Here’s the deal: If we are constantly angry, it impacts not only our physical health (it leads to things like heart disease), and our emotional health (constant negativity and anger lead to mental health issues), but also our spiritual health. You see, in our faith, we aren’t supposed to constantly focus on the negative. Instead, we have every reason to be positive. We have a God who, in spite of our stupid sins, loves us, died for us, is saving us, and building a way better eternity for us. If that’s not something to be positive about, then I don’t know what is!

Additionally, when we call ourselves Christians, but are constantly ripping on people, organizations, or the church, we repel those who have not yet found Christ. Our witness to them is lost. Who wants to hang around people who talk about love but demonstrate anger? And, our mission as Christians, is to be a witness for Jesus.

King David, who was no stranger to difficulties in life, understood that anger will wreck you if you let it. A few thousand years ago, he wrote this gem, “Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm.”

So, I challenge you: Today, and every day, seek out the positive. Speak words of encouragement, not anger. Lift others up, even when you think they are wrong. Pray over others for their success. Reclaim the joy we have in our Savior, Jesus. Focus on the positive. As the old saying goes, “Turn that frown upside down.”