The human motherboard of emotion includes a cycle that occurs in relationships with problem people. When people offend you, there is a natural, cycle of despair, which if not understood, monitored and controlled, can be destructive. You don’t have to take classes to learn it, because it is part of your fallenness. Now the unregenerate have no checks and balances to govern this propensity and even if you are enduring, you remain liable to drop into this cycle at any time. David identifies the components, which are…
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity…(8) Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Psalm 37:1, 8 (KJV)
Now the cycle is this: fret, envy, anger, wrath and evil, the foundation of one-upmanship, so prevalent in contemporary life. The sequence is so natural, you find yourself embroiled in it before you even realize. You may see a situation unfold, where a superior is abusing his or her authority. “Well, that just isn’t right. I wonder if he or she is going to get away with that? Would he or she do that to me?” You just qualified for the first step, as fretting is now in place. General discussion keeps the incident alive in your mental faculties, and you may even dialogue about some of the details. Before long, “Well, if I were him or her, I just wouldn’t act that way, and if I were his or her boss, I’d put a stop to it? Without realizing it, you just crossed into the envy–step. Your envy fades into anger as you ponder the issues and consider potential developments. “Well, this whole thing is wrong and needs to be stopped!” Your blood pressure escalates in concert with your anger, as you continue to process the information you have. Before long, you begin to fabricate plans to end what you perceive to be a bad situation. Without realizing it, you just moved into the fourth realm: wrath. While the situation may be bad, and even dangerous, you often omit prayer. You make the decision to sin long before opportunity presents itself, and without prayer, the probability you will sin is high. Continuing to meditate on possible offensive moves, something happens that spurs you to action, and evil erupts like a volcano. Congratulations; what an accomplishment!
David also documented the Divine prescription to break this cycle…
Rest in Yahuah, and wait patiently for him: fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. TEHILLIYM (PSALMS) 37:7 את CEPHER
I hasten to point out that resting in YAHUAH is not inactivity, but action must be taken in careful obedience to YAHUAH’s Word; aligning your priorities with YAHUAH’s Will! The one component in the cycle most necessary to understand is anger. You were made in the image of Alahiym. The contemporary view of Alahiym is love, but anger is a part of Him, but His anger is always exercised in the context of Divine love. Anger is an onboard alarm system to injustice. If something inside you does not set off an alarm at the corporate scandal, there is something wrong. The fact that corporate executives swindled innocent people, who devoted years of faithful service to an organization in good faith that money was being invested on their behalf to help them in the autumn years of life, and got away with minimal chastening, ought to make you mad. Anger releases adrenalin, which moves you to action, but the Apostle Paul, gives this warning…
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: EPH'SIYM (EPHESIANS) 4:26 את CEPHER
This is where resting in YAHUAH, and waiting patiently for Him becomes vitally important. YAHUAH is omniscient, and doesn’t need you to inform Him of despicable activities. You are instructed however to…
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. IVRIYM (HEBREWS) 4:16 את CEPHER
Herein is a fine line where you are to pray confidently, not presumptuously that YAHUAH will deal with the matter burdening you in His Good Time. He may use you to right a bad situation, and then again, He may not. That is His call, not yours! I want to leave you with the record of David’s testimony later in the thirty–seventh Psalm…
I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. TEHILLIYM (PSALMS) 37:35-36 את CEPHER
This cycle documents the details of the double mindedness James warns of twice in his general epistle (James 1:8 and 4:8). Are you a double minded person?