Coranky

Many people are angry these days – cranky and on edge. I feel tension in our community. As if people are a minuscule flicker away from exploding.

I confess I have found myself “coranky.” That’s not a typo. I coined a new term – coranky. If someone can refer to an irritable hungry person as hangry, then I can call my edgy frustrations coranky. Coronavirus + cranky = coranky.

Good or Evil
In all seriousness what does my Lord expect me to do with cranky? Isn’t cranky a mild form of anger or kindling for it? Anger is an emotion that God gave so it has a purpose. My actions, when cranky or angry, can influence or impact others in a way that will direct towards good or evil. The actions can be destructive or a catalyst towards righteousness and virtue.

A bit after a month of Covid-19 restrictions, I began to be aware of how insignificant things would stir angst in me. An annoyance or slight that would have previously been disregarded or shaken off, seemed to fester and infect my mind. Why? I questioned.

Now What
I have come to the conclusion the “why” is not as important as, “now what?” We need to be aware of our emotional indicators and do some self-evaluation, check the obvious. Have I gotten enough sleep? Do I need to eat? Am I taking on too much? Is there a valid reason for my short fuse, etc.? If self-assessment passes, it’s time to give thought to, “now what” with the Lord.

Controlled Anger
The Lord God gets angry but His anger is controlled and righteous. There are four passages that describe God as slow to anger and abounding in love along with being gracious and compassionate.

In Psalm 30:5 David states, “his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime.” In Psalm 78:38 we’re told that, “Time after time he [God] restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.”

Paul advises in Ephesians 4:26, “Be angry and do not sin.” Then he expounds saying, “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the devil an opportunity.”

A fool gives full vent to his anger,
but a wise person holds it in check.

Proverbs 29:11

Lesson Learned
When I take time to do self-assessment with my Lord Jesus, He reveals the root cause or trigger that has pushed my buttons. With His enlightenment and the power of the Holy Spirit, I am able to appropriately subdue cranky, ill-tempered, angry emotions. To restrain or subdue our emotions is not about stuffing them. Rather, it is allowing the Holy Spirit the freedom to guide us in dissipating the negative energy and focus on transformation. It may be an internal transformation or a communal change of some degree.

For Further Study
Read Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 103:8-12 and Jonah 4:2. Are you coranky? How do you act when angry or irritable?

Prayer
Lord God, thank You for being slow to anger. Thank You for being forgiving, gracious, compassionate, and so loving to me — a wretched sinner.

Give me pause to come to You when I have sparks of anger inside. Prevent me from doing any evil or harm in the midst of cantankerous feelings. Supply me strength to grant to others the same mercy, grace, forgiveness, compassion, and love You have bestowed to me. Let there be peace and let it start inside of me. Thank You for being the God who reconciles through Jesus my Redeemer. Amen.

Coronavirus image from Pixabay.