Psalm 37:8

"Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret--it only causes harm."

Psalm 37:8

    It is very, very, very easy to get angry or worried, isn't it?
    Especially when somebody is annoying you, or when it looks like you or something you care about is going to be ruined. When the jerk sitting next to you or disaster strikes, so does the temptation to lash back or curl up into a tiny shivering ball. Often, a person does so, and they feel better/justified for a moment or two.
    However, whenever God tells us not to do something, there's a really good reason for it.
    The fact is, anger burns--it burns the person you're angry at, and it burns you as well. Letting fury loose often causes damage emotionally, relationship-wise, and sometimes physically. Anger also often leads to bitterness, which lingers longer. And once fear gets its claws into you, it's hard to get rid of. A person tends to remain afraid, become afraid of more things, it weakens them, and it paralyzes them. Slowly, fear tears a person down.
    So there are very good reasons to not be angry or fearful--especially one.
    That reason is that the Lord is with us. He is our avenger and He does not allow injustice to go unpunished. He sees that jerk annoying you, and He'll take care of it in the best way. He also sees your problems, all your fears, and He's infinitely stronger and more powerful than it.
    So we can relax, not get angry, and not be fearful. Isn't that neat?