Anger And Anxiety!

February 10, 2026

Scripture

“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.  Do not fret—it leads only to evil.  For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.”  Psalm 37:8-9

Anger And Anxiety!

The source of much of the evil we experience finds fertile ground in our anger and in our anxiety.  Most good Christians don’t like the words “anger” and “anxiety.”  Maybe “frustration” and “fear” are a bit easier to accept.  Or, we may like “irritated” and “impatient” better.

No matter what we call it, there are two things that consistently create space for evil in your life; i.e., anger and anxiety!

The Apostle Paul knew this truth.  In Ephesians 4:26-27 he writes; “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil.”  Paul knew that holding onto our anger day after day after day becomes a great place for the power of darkness to create opportunities for evil.

As David writes these words in Psalm 37, he must have remembered some of the times when he was angry. 

+In I Samuel 25, David is angry with and is about to kill Nabal and his family after Nabal refused to provide supplies for David’s men.

+In II Samuel 3, David becomes angry when his commander Joab kills Abner.

+In II Samuel 6, David is angry with the Lord God when the Lord God strikes Uzzah dead for touching the Ark Of The Covenant.

+In II Samuel 13, David is angry when he learns that his son Amnon had raped his daughter Tamar.

Like you and me, David’s anger often grew out of experiences when he felt betrayed or believed there was a grave injustice or when He disagreed with the Lord’s actions or when his weakness was revealed or when his relationship with the Lord God was compromised in some way. 

Those same kinds of experiences can also lead us to be anxious and worried and fret-full.  No wonder David writes in Psalm 37:8; “Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.  Do not fret—it leads only to evil.”  David knew that when anger and anxiety fill the human heart, there is less and less room for the love of the Lord God.  That which is good and right and just quickly gives way to that which is evil and wicked and sinful.

Anger quickly transforms itself into bitterness, resentment, and hatefulness.  The Bible teaches us to cleanse our heart from all anger at the end of each day.  In Ephesians 4:30-32 we hear; “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.  Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”

Anxiety quickly transforms itself into fear and discontentment as well as irritableness and restlessness.  In Isaiah 41:10 we are reminded; “…do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”    

When we allow our hearts and minds and souls to be filled with anger and anxiety, we make room for the power of darkness to release evil and wickedness and sin in us and through us to other people. 

David knew the consequence of making room for anger and anxiety was to be cut off from the joy of faith in the Lord God.  In contrast, those who cast their anger and anxiety onto the Lord God will not be cut off from the Lord God.  Instead, they will inherit the promises of the Lord God.

In II Corinthians 7:1 the Apostle Paul writes; “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God.” 

If anger and anxiety have taken your heart and mind and soul captive, it is time for you to ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse you from every thing that is defiling you, compromising you, and destroying you.

In Psalm 37:9 David reminds us that “…those who wait for the Lord shall inherit…” the promises of the Lord God.  The promises of the Lord God are waiting on the other side of the Holy Spirit cleaning out your anger and anxiety.

Reflect

Has anger or anxiety taken possession of your heart or your mind or your soul?  How is that “possession” being manifest in your relationships with other people, in your relationship with Jesus, and in your own peace and joy and love?  What is the hurt that has caused anger or anxiety to grow in you?  For what do you need to pray so the hurt can be healed, so the anger can be released, and so the anxiety can be calmed?

Pray

Lord God, sometimes when I speak I am surprised by the amount of anger that is evident in my words.  There are other times, when my soul is so anxious it seems I am too often worried or nervous or fearful.  I know the answer is to trust You more deeply and to lean on You more often.  Remind me that You are always with me, You always love me, and You will always help me love You more.  In the name of Jesus I pray.  Amen.

Act

Meet with a friend and share how your anger and/or anxiety are providing fertile ground for sin or evil or wickedness to mess up your life.  Ask your friend to pray with you and then through the coming week to pray for you.  Ask how you might pray for your friend.