“Anger is an important emotion to feel, especially when we have suffered abuse, harm, and trauma. Anger lets us know that what happened to us was not okay, and it shows us that we matter and are valuable.” (When Religion Hurts You: Healing from Religious Trauma and the Impact of High-Control Religion, by Dr. Laura E. Anderson.)

“God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11 NLT).

I feel blessed to work with children and families in Thailand. Over the years, I have watched so many children grow up. It makes me happy to see how they have learned to give and receive love. I am sure it makes God happy, too.

Sadly, I have also witnessed abuse. It deeply hurts when I see a child who is angry because someone is injuring them and being told to calm down or get over it. It hurts to hear a parent lament because their child is being bullied at school, and their cry of anger is ignored. It hurts to be told that I shouldn’t be angry or speak up when others violate boundaries that harm the children and families for whom I care deeply.

In Thai culture, someone who gets angry easily is considered a fool. This sentiment is often true in Christian circles as well. Unfortunately, this simplistic view of anger and the general misunderstanding of human emotions can cause trauma because people don’t feel safe to experience or talk about their emotions. People tell them that feeling angry is a sign of weakness or is sinful, leading them to become emotionally stuck, hindering healthy emotional growth and leaving them vulnerable to harm.

Yet, the Bible shows that even God can feel angry. Because He created us in His image, it is reasonable that we should sometimes feel angry, too, especially regarding abuse and injustice. Anger is an important messenger, signaling that something isn’t right. Anger reminds us when we need to stand up for ourselves and others, just as God does for us.

Please continue to pray for our team as we seek to form spiritual family groups from those who have gone through the difficult but necessary work of trauma healing and liberation from false teachings that prevent them from experiencing the fullness of life that Jesus desires for them.

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