Last week, while watching national news the coverage was upsetting. What was shown seemed unbelievable. Even ominous—as I pondered it. I felt helpless while watching our national capitol sieged and under attack on January 6, 2021. I sat praying while feeling numb and rocked back. Then anger and grief were felt, as well. It was hard handling all these difficult emotions on top of one another.

Throughout the day I turned to God in prayer, pleading for our country’s well-being and safety. I prayed for peace and to forsake my arising fears. It was an emotional rollercoaster. Trying to think about anything else was difficult as disquieting thoughts surfaced persistently.

“We have to own up to our feelings,” is a lesson learned through life and my work as a mental health counselor. Prayer became my best match for all the emotion felt. I was reminded to pray for myself first, then for all involved. Amazing the change that comes through caring and praying for others, while setting aside the tendency to be judgmental.

Anger is a challenging emotion. I like many others, grew up believing anger was bad, something to avoid, or at least hide. Feelings were denied, pushed down deep inside. The reasons for this were in part due to messages perceived incorrectly, like “If you are a good Christian you won’t get angry.”  Beyond that, to a child it can seem like “dangerous business” to show ire.

Unfortunately, in many homes there is little teaching on how to effectively deal with difficult emotions. The results?  The gulping down of feelings, which is hazardous behavior to both emotional and physical health. Ideally, somewhere in time we come upon the truth of Ephesians 6: 26, “Be angry and sin not . . .” We are expected to feel these feelings and to honor them by admitting the feelings to ourselves and to God. The verse continues with, “Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” Here, we see God’s desire for us to let Him help us move beyond our anger, our hurt feelings, the shock and awe of dangerous and difficult happenings—and to do so before we close our eyes to sleep. This makes sense from a psychological stance, as in this way we do not let it settle securely into our subconscious mind—where it is hard to heal.

But what about all those early years during which some of us denied anger, slept on it, and let it creep down into the cerebral grooves giving root to bitterness? Is there hope for its safe release so we can be free of its affecting our future?

According to one psychologist, Eugene Wiesner of Billings, Montana who for decades taught workshops on “God’s Psychology,” the answer is “yes.” He explains that old, tamped-down anger must be allowed to surface and come to healing. How does that happen? By forgiving our enemies. And, forgiving everything that has hurt us in life.  What good can come of hanging on to all that old stuff? It serves only to burn the soul like an acid.

So, rather than to avoid situations that trigger the anger or fall into old patterns of sullenness or resentment, he advises looking at that old pain each time it arises, then setting the will afresh to let it go. That is forgiveness. And, that is healing. Life is a learning experience—and God expects us to mature spiritually as we increase in years.

Then when the battle gets hot, and much is surfacing, calling for help through prayer carries tremendous power, and can put finishing touches on the task. One many multitudes of people have used throughout history is “The Jesus Prayer.” [1]

Wiesner taught that each time difficult feelings are triggered it is healing to simply ask Jesus to succor us as we lift these up to Him. In this way, given time, our souls become free from all the buried wrath and sorrows.

He told of dealing with frequently explosive feelings toward one of his sons. Yet, after working for three years with his emotions and using the “Jesus prayer,” Wiesner found the patience and endurance he had longed so much to gain. He said, “I eventually came to love my son unconditionally.”

Through the years, I, too, learned that persevering in the hard work of inner healing, choosing to persistently forgive the painful happenings of life. This sees me no longer at the mercy of my emotions. Jesus’ taught us to forgive, even to pray for our enemies. Doing so may seem like a hard pill to swallow, but it is good medicine, as it brings peace to one’s heart.

[1] If you want The Jesus Prayer” go to my website at www.healing-with-Joy.com and click on “Quick Aids.”