A few weeks ago I sat down across from a good friend. We’ve done life and ministry together for years. She came over to share some things she recently heard someone else say about me, fearing they might be true. They were selfish, ugly things, and upon hearing them the room started spinning and my stomach turned over. It was one of those moments when you want to fight someone, or retreat and cry all night in a pillow.

Nothing she said was close to true. I felt misrepresented, misunderstood and judged. I was as mad as I was hurt.

Anger is my reaction when my rights are being taken from me. We get angry about what we think we deserve. I think most of my life I have held on to a right to be understood. These are often the times I get most mad at my husband or those around me. I think I deserve to be understood and represented fairly.

As followers of Christ, what are our rights?

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

God is calling us to a surrender that is so resolute, so final that to lift our head in defense or anger would seem insane – ridiculous even. I am a bond servant of God Almighty. He is my defender. I answer to Him. Whatever wave of attack or injustice – from long grocery lines to slander – God’s call is to let it wash over me without a fight.

To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also. Luke 6:29 (NKJV)

Why would anyone live this way?

There is this mercy that runs out of God, and with it an expectation that mercy births more mercy… love births more love.

When I read the Scriptures I hear God saying to me, “You that know Me, you give up your lives as I did. I’ll help you and fill you. I will show you when and where to lay down your rights. But let’s start with your life, your expectations, your money, your family’s approval, your right to a family, your right to move quickly, your right to be successful, your right, Jennie, to be understood. Let’s start with these. Die to them.”

Turn the other cheek and die to your rights. What if God says these powerful words because He knows that turning cheeks could transform this planet? He knows that this selfish race of people would watch a ridiculous and radical abandonment of rights and insane love, and perhaps they would see God?

What if I am missing the mission of my life because I want to hold on to a few selfish rights and visions for my life? What if freedom is letting go of the very things I think I must have...to be free?

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Comments (3)

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Sad and angry because from childhood I feel cheated of hat I feel is normal and happy life.

I can’t stop crying and feeling angry because I feel I’ve been cheated from normal and happy life. I’m full of giving and trusting and has gotten me nothing but heartache and financial despair. I’ve worked hard from as a child. I am 64 and have NOTHING. I will be depending on support from my daughter, and this is more than I can bear. Lucy is my saving grace. I’m selfish enough , I want to see and experience her growing into an adult. Yes, the word me is in this and this isn’t about me, but on other hand it is. My child who I’m to be helping will be supporting me. I hope I can get beyond this sadness, I miss my son. God help me.

Amy Allen more than 2 years ago

surrendering anger

Thank you for your article. I think we need to surrender our anger to God. I do however feel like it's important to acknowledge anger and sometimes that our rights have been genuinely violated ... this makes forgiveness much more meaningful. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:26 in your anger do not sin, this verse assumes people will get angry and that in itself is not a sin (as in you can be angry and not sin or you can be angry and sin). So I think anger is an emotion that is ok to have, but it needs to be expressed in such a way that is not sinful. I don't think we should give up the emotion but rather acknowledge it and hand the offence to God and learn how to forgive which might be a process.

hinds more than 2 years ago

Letting go of anger

It's irritates me to no end when the church tells people to get rid of anger or Surrender it to God. But the church is not good at teaching people how to do it. I hear all the time, get rid of your anger Let It Go surrender to God. But I never hear the church teach how to do it. If you're not going to teach how to do something don't teach that we need to do it. Don't tell somebody to get rid of their anger if you're not going to try to teach them how to get rid of their anger. If you're not going to teach them and show them how to surrender it to God, don't tell them that they need to surrender to God.

Ben more than 1 year ago