Rant and Release

Utilizing a prayer journal to process hurt and anger

Writing down your thoughts and feelings can be helpful way to process them. By stepping away and revisiting your notes later with a clear mind, you can find valuable insights from your pain and anger.

Understanding Anger

​Anger is a significant issue, with Christian counselors many of their clients seek help for anger-related problems. Unmanaged anger can destroy communication, ruin relationships, and diminish both health and joy. People often justify their anger rather than taking responsibility for it, even though everyone struggles with it to some degree. However, the Bible provides guidance on how to handle anger in a godly way and overcome sinful anger.

​Anger isn't always a sin; the Bible approves of a type of anger called "righteous indignation". Both God and believers can get angry, as shown in Psalm 7:11, Mark 3:5, and Ephesians 4:26. The New Testament uses two Greek words for anger: one meaning "passion, energy," and the other meaning "agitated, boiling". Biblically, anger is seen as God-given energy to help solve problems. Examples of this include David's anger at an injustice and Jesus' anger at the desecration of the temple. These examples were not about self-defense but about defending others or a principle. Anger can also be a "warning flag" that alerts you when someone is violating your boundaries. It's appropriate to feel anger over an injustice committed against yourself, especially for victims of abuse or crime. Victims may not feel anger during the trauma but will experience it later as they process it. Anger is a necessary step for a victim to accept the trauma for what it was and can lead to true health and forgiveness. This anger, especially for victims of abuse, can be a long-term process.

When Anger Becomes Sin

Anger becomes sinful when it is motivated by pride (James 1:20), is unproductive and distorts God's purposes (1 Corinthians 10:31), or is allowed to linger (Ephesians 4:26-27). A clear sign that anger has turned to sin is when you attack the person instead of the problem. The Bible advises using words to build people up, not to be destructive or "rotten" (Ephesians 4:15-19). This kind of poisonous speech is a common trait of fallen humanity (Romans 3:13-14). Anger is also sinful when it boils over without restraint, causing multiplied hurt and devastation (Proverbs 29:11). The consequences of out-of-control anger are often irreparable. Finally, anger becomes sinful when you refuse to be pacified, hold a grudge, or keep it bottled up (Ephesians 4:26-27). This can lead to depression and irritability over minor, unrelated issues.

Benefits of a Prayer Journal

A prayer journal provides a vital tool for processing anger in a godly way by creating a private space for honest reflection and spiritual redirection. The act of writing helps you to organize and explore the root causes of your anger, discerning whether it is a righteous indignation born from injustice or a sinful reaction rooted in pride, unproductivity, or a refusal to let go. By pouring out these raw emotions to God on paper, you can identify triggers and patterns without harming others through destructive speech or actions. This practice transforms inward brooding into intentional prayer, prompting you to "preach the gospel to yourself" by reflecting on God's faithfulness and seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance for a godly response. In this way, a prayer journal helps you to tangibly release intense feelings, repent of sinful anger, and work toward a mindset of forgiveness and peace, rather than allowing your emotions to fester and cause irreparable damage.