Hi doug,As Diane said, there could be more questions before advice be given, but, I can testify of my own experience of God's leadings.When I realised I was angry, I knew it was because of having been abused. I agree with the verse philologos quoted, in that it is right to remember that God has taken responsibility for all our SIN. However, if one is angry because of sins committed against oneself, then that anger will do damage of itself; simply containing it, is harmful - in a sort of self-harming way.... at the same time as recognising that Anger does need to be contained, so that it doesn't harm others..When I began to FEEL my anger, I knew I would have to give it to God, and eventually, in a moment of desperation, (because I thought I would go berserk if I didn't deal with it somehow - and then I'd need to be seriously sedated - ) He came to me immediately, and began to take it. It was a Sunday, and I soon felt as if I could hardly speak, and a strange, new pain appeared within my being; slowly, over a period of hours, God took the pain and a completely clean fresh spirit rose up from the depths of my being - literally like a line as straight as a ruler could have been drawn across my body. Eventually, the last bit of pain disappeared up through the top of my head; after that, I felt I was in touch with my anger, and it was only relevant anger - not unweildy or out of control - and most of all, it was not present all the time. As my history of being angry went back to my early childhood, this was a big deal!On forgiveness, I've really struggled, because I think I needed to find God's forgiveness for myself, first. Then, strengthened by the healing which accompanies forgiveness, forgiving others has been properly possible. I know many people believe that forgiveness is a key to many freedoms, and the only sense I can make of this is that it may well be, if a person is holding things against another person in a resentful way. For me, I was more boggled in my mind by the sheer magnitude of the sins which had been committed against me, and the Lord knew I needed to be healed of those, in order to grow up into a place of emotional wholeness, before I had the capacity to forgive in a meaningful way. I think we all know what God is doing with us, and when we hear the word of God to our understanding, we have no alternative to obey it...Recently, I noticed that Jesus said 'FATHER, forgive them, for they ....' This has comforted me greatly, as I had been able to forgive on the strength of knowing that forgiveness is offered to every sinner.... but the Lord knew that was my limit. I could not 'feel' the dynamic change which is supposed to occur when a person forgives another (even if the other person is not involved at all..... In fact, that was another aspect of my difficulty with forgiveness, in that I'd been brought up to associate it with reconciliation.) It has been helpful - nay, necessary - for me to be able to separate forgiveness and reconciliation, because reconciliation is only possible when the person being forgiven is able to acknowledge their fault in such a way that in principle at very least, they intend not to keep repeating the harmful action against you.(NKJV) Hebrews 12:13 make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be [dislocated,] but rather be healed. Young's Literal13 and straight paths make for your feet, that that which is lame may not be turned aside, but rather be healed; 14 peace pursue with all, and the separation, apart from which no one shall see the Lord, 15 looking diligently over lest any one be failing of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up may give trouble, and through this many may be defiled; 'the separation' is a much more practical and un-intimidating form of words, than 'holiness', which appears in other translations.
