Immanuel Biblical Counseling, LLC

Replace the blameshift response of "you made me angry" to "this brought out my anger." People, or situations, don't MAKE you angry, jealous, bitter, etc. They merely expose who you are. Now flee to Christ for forgiveness and to change your heart.

Marriage tip:
Make it easier for your spouse to love you.
(Philippians 2:4 applied)

A common kid-problem is anger over parents not giving him something or not letting him do something that he wants, especially when the other kids have it or get to do it. The good parent does this from love, knowing what is best.

Parents bear the brunt of their child's drama (anger/wrath/disappointment), then deal appropriately with that too.

Likewise, Christians as God's children, mature by trusting that whatever God withholds or removes--even good things that He gives to some of His other children--is good and best.

Furthermore, whatever difficulty He puts in our life instead of the easier good thing or situation, is also best.

How much more peaceful the family and deep the relationship between child and parent becomes when children calmly, lovingly trust and obey their all-knowing, all-powerful, and good Father.

Problems compound, relationships deteriorate often from responding sinfully to another's sin.

God promises a tearless life only in Glory. This side is for persevering by faith.

James teaches that joy in trials is an action of the mind, not a passive emotional response

How we interpret and respond to the circumstances of our grief is crucial to life and eternity. A portion of Psalm 77:

"...Will the Lord reject forever?
And will He never be favorable again?

Has His lovingkindness ceased forever?
Has His promise come to an end forever? Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah.

Then I said, “It is my grief,
That the right hand of the Most High has changed.”

I shall remember the deeds of the LORD;
Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old.

I will meditate on all Thy work,
And muse on Thy deeds.

Thy way, O God, is holy;
What god is great like our God?..."

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:8

“I [Jesus] am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing."
John 15:5

Christianity does not disengage the mind, but renews it and realigns it to think God's thoughts that we may live God's way.

An important reminder to all of us who love studying God's word (from Jesus's rebuke of the Pharisees), "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me [Jesus]"
John 5:39.