"Anger Management"

"He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever." (Psalms 103:9)
When it comes to dark times, times of pain, and times of not knowing from where or why trials have come upon you, those are the times of rest and cleansing; those are the times when God can do some of His greatest work in us, because those are the times when we will stop to listen to what He says. This word "chide," it's not always about contention and striving; it is also about pleading and contending a cause. God's ways are not our ways, He knows that more than anyone; it is we who do not get it; it is we who can't figure out the what's and the why's of life. As soon as we think we have it all figured out, He will scramble up the puzzle pieces again, and we are right back where we started. Do you not think that God knows what is going on in your heart? We either trust Him or we don't; but we cannot hide the fact that we don't, from Him; He sees our heart and He knows how much we trust Him or not. There is another message that I heard the other day, one about God's ability to not snuff us out, even though we might deserve it. I believe it was from Pastor Jeff, as he was explaining how God destroyed 24,000 of the children of Israel when they rebelled against Him in the wilderness. He could have destroyed them all, but His hand was only partially applied to them; as it was, He took out the ones who were instigating the rebellion. Isn't that how He works in our own lives, almost like a surgeon with a scalpel, as He carves out the ugliness in our lives and hearts. We might deserve to be smashed like a bug, but He has mercy on us, and He holds back His hand against us. If Jesus was angry with Peter over his denial of Him, it was only because Peter did not believe what He had said. It was one of those, 'See, I told you so,' moments; like when your mom says, "Don't touch that, it will burn you," and then you touch it anyway. She might be angry with what you did, but she is even more angry about you not listening to what she said...
"Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago." (Micah 7:18-20) NLT