Lake Eufaula Christian Church
Have you ever heard the old adage, “you have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak?” It’s a great retelling of James 1:19 – “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to be angry.”
Currently we are in a message series called “Summer Stories,” where our members testify to the radical change that God has brought to their lives.
This past Sunday two LECC members who serve our church every Sunday shared their testimonies about how anger worsened their lives. They both are living examples that ANGER is just one letter short of DANGER, and one should “not be quickly provoked in spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7:9).
Jeremy was angry as a child, and the beginning of that anger came from his only memory of a relationship with his mother was one of abuse. He copied his father’s way of coping with anger—by lashing out and/or breaking something. In high school a Christian counselor helped Jeremy with anger management, and he started bouncing a basketball—hard and repeatedly—to release his rage and frustration.
But he couldn’t contain it enough. He joined the Air Force to make it his life’s career, but a circumstance changed his plan.
“They forced me out,” he sadly recalled. “People told me, ‘Everything happens for a reason,’ but that just made me angrier.”
Sonny was also an angry kid brought up in a dysfunctional family fueled with alcohol and domestic violence. There was always anger in our home growing up.
“It was a party house,” he remembered. “We had absolutely no stable home structure.”
He admired his 5-year older brother who was an active gang member. By age 12, Sonny was not only robbing from cars but stealing them too. Sonny ran the streets all night and was no stranger to drinking, smoking weed, and fighting.
Well-meaning adults asked Sonny, “What do you need a gang for?”
The truth was: he liked it. “I needed the camaraderie.”
If only he’d known then the truth of Proverbs 12:15: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”
Through all their turmoil, both Jeremy and Sonny knew the truth of James 1:20, even if they didn’t know the verse itself. “Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.”
“For me, it was a matter of pride,” Jeremy said. “I was raised in church, so I knew what I needed to do. Find God again!” HIs go-to verse became Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
Having God show him mercy and grace helped his anger begin to die from the inside out. “I learned how to practice the pause. Now, I trust in the Lord. So, if my anger is not fleeing quickly, I know I’m not giving Him my complete trust in that moment.”
Jeremy struggled with thoughts of Christian forgiveness, and after eighteen years of not contacting his mother, he called and asked her to forgive him. They’re in touch now. The mother who left such angry memories for her child now regularly is messaged or called and wished a happy birthday and happy Mother’s Day.
Sonny dropped out of high school but went on to become a social worker— a job he resigned after a misunderstood incident with his son. He ended up in a domestic violence situation but regretted it so much he reported himself to the Department of Human Services. “I took full responsibility and started immediate counseling.” Thankfully, his son joined him in counseling. Now when we see each other and talk, “we always hug and say we love each other. I’m so thankful for how God is continuing to renew me, guide me, and bless me as I surrender to Him. A song that speaks to me and reminds me of my life right now is called, “All because of Mercy”, by Casting Crowns. It says, “I know the only reason I can stand here unashamed, it’s not because I’m worthy, it’s all because of mercy.”
We at LECC know that anyone, with God’s help, can be radically changed from ANGRY to AMIABLE. God’s Holy Spirit can help us master our self-control and “lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults.” (Ephesians 4:31) We are a church of real people, with real problems, who serve a real, powerful God! Forgiveness, love, and joy are what you’ll find when you visit us at 415897 Highway 9 for small group Bible study at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m., and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night classes. We’ll quickly welcome you and listen to you!
God Bless You!
Jeremy Little
