The hurt turns into anger and follows an ugly pattern of control as it continues to victimize the victim over and over again. Anger is a secondary emotion that begins with hurt. When that hurt turns to anger and begins to take control of the already hurting person, there is but one prevailing philosophy, "I hurt, I want you to hurt."

    An individual cannot be angry with another person without a reason. He will find it necessary to focus on his memory of the hurt that he felt and relive that pain as he seeks motivation for his anger.

    What the hurting person fails to realize is that he is now inflicting pain upon himself in order to maintain his motive for hurting the other individual. An understanding of what this anger does to the hurting person might be an eye opener worth considering.

The portion of the human brain that controls our emotions can become so powerful that it will over-ride the areas of the brain that control other functions. The motor skills of the human body, for example, are controlled by a different portion of the brain. Chemicals and electrical impulses control signals in the brain that cause bodily functions.

When the emotion of anger takes over the brain, the individual’s heart rate will automatically increase. As this takes place the blood circulates faster through the body causing the hands and feet to become colder. The adrenaline glands will receive a signal thus causing adrenaline to be pumped into the blood stream that is now moving faster. The cold hands begin to sweat, resulting in a cold clammy feeling, due to the fact that a signal has been sent to the sweat glands.

The individual’s kidneys will function more. His digestive system will be out of control as it releases enzymes when there is no food to digest. His liver will produce more cholesterol. In short, his body will be operating under the control of his emotions and a variety of abnormal functions can take place.

Let us imagine what might happen if these abnormal functions are allowed to continue unchecked. High blood pressure, heart problems, heart attack, stomach ulcers, back and neck pains, headaches, and rashes are but a few of the physical problems that might result from the prolonged stress caused by anger.

Emotional problems could consist of depression, hyper-excitability, irritability, sudden mood swings, and even certain kinds of paranoia. In the social area of one’s life we are looking at the loss of friendships and perhaps the loss of a job. All of this can happen if one cannot bring himself to forgive another person for an offense.

Does this bring new meaning to the command of Christ that requires us to forgive those who offend us? The forgiveness is not for the sake of the offender, but for the well being of the offended. When you add to the scenario of physical and emotional disruptions the concept of the anger hindering one’s relationship with God, the problem could become eternal in nature (Matthew 6:15).

HOW DO I LET GO?