We Are Tired of Being Angry: Letting Go Without Giving Up

We Are Tired of Being Angry

I am tired of being angry. Other people are, too. Then there are those people who never appear to tire of it. They must be getting tired of being furious at the world. Other people in our lives must be weary of us being angry.

Speaking for myself, I repent.

Why Angry?

Granted, there is much in the world that excuses anger. Injustice, hypocrisy, stupidity, evil, and ignorance appear to be reasons for anger.  Should we be upset about these problems? American Christians have been conditioned to think so. They are also reasons to mourn or grieve. A teacher once described the difference between ignorance and stupidity. Ignorance, she claimed, can be corrected. Nothing, however, can be done about stupidity. She has a point. Why be angry at the stupid? We either feel sorry for them or learn to be patient with them. The same things apply to the ignorant. But what should we do about willful ignorance?

We can grieve evil, injustice, and hypocrisy. Shouldn’t we do something about these problems? Of course, we do. We are not required to be angry about them. As I said earlier, it may be excusable to feel that way. But is it at all helpful or healthy?

Justifiable Anger

I have spoken at other times about justifiable anger. Yet, anger always appears justified when we experience it. Resentment also appears justified until we call it what it is. Too many of us get angry very easily and hold grudges very easily. It cannot be justifiable every time.

Being Angry and Depressed

Grief is often masked as anger. We can be depressed simply because we do not label our feelings correctly. Real anger and resentment lead to depression, too. It is why angry people can feel fatigued all the time. I believed, wrongly, that turning depression into anger could alleviate it. I once also believed alcohol could relieve my depression. Now, I make no such claims. However, I know being angry can cause a lot of unhappiness for me and those around me. I am tired of being angry and want to let it go. I suspect that many others want to let go of it, too.

Giving It Up

Someone may ask if I intend to stop fighting evil, injustice, ignorance, and hypocrisy. May it never be so! These are destructive forces. I am deciding they will not destroy me. Instead, I will mourn as I fight. I can find comfort in that.

The story of Jonah is the tale of an angry prophet. When we read this story, we do not want to be the main character.