INCREDIBLE HULK: The Danger of Hidden Anger A Meet Me at the Movies Devotional by Kimberly M. Jones www.kimberly-j.com
“Within each of us ofttimes, there dwells a mighty and raging fury”1 His name is Bruce Banner and he seems normal enough. Just don’t make him angry. You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry. In the movie, The Incredible Hulk, Bruce Banner becomes exposed to gamma rays and that exposure fundamentally alters his body. As long as Bruce remains calm, he does not have a problem. But when he gets to a certain level of anger or emotional agitation, he physically transforms into a different sort of creature. And the creature he becomes is really big, really green, really strong and really angry. This creature is also very destructive – smashing all sorts of things, walls and helicopters, you name it.
In some ways, that green hulk can represent our hidden and repressed anger. Some anger can be positive. For example, righteous anger at unjust oppression can prompt us into righteous action. But, there are forms of anger that can be very destructive, especially if that anger is never dealt with but instead stuffed deeper and deeper inside us. Like with the green hulk, though, just because we cannot see it, does not mean that it is not in there, hiding beneath the surface, waiting to come out. And it will come out. It is important to become aware and look for signs of “green” – such as self destructive behavior, passive aggression, sarcasm, depression. And it is important to talk about it with someone you can trust.
Sometimes the anger we are hiding within is anger at God. Anger at another person or even ourselves is one thing. But what about anger at God? What if we are holding in resentment at God because of some of the things that have happened to us? Anger at God is sometimes the kind of anger that we push down the deepest because we tell ourselves that it is wrong to be angry at Him. But telling ourselves that does not remove the anger. It just keeps us from addressing it. As a result, our anger at God can keep us from drawing closer to Him, from wanting to worship Him, from wanting to obey His will. Sometimes it keeps us from wanting to have anything to do with Him.
Hiding the anger from ourselves does not make it go away. We can begin the process now of becoming honest with ourselves and facing the green hulks within - before they end up becoming destructive.
1
Okay. Full disclosure. This quote is actually from the 80’s tv show, not the movie.
Read: Psalm 22 (verses1-6 & 22-26)
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. (Psalm 22: 1-6) I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! (Psalm 22: 22-26)
What word/phrase in the passage stands out the most to you? Why?
Why do you think that the psalmist starts off the passage with a question and then later moves on to praise?
If you could ask God one question about your life, what question would you ask Him? (This could be a question regarding something that’s going on right now or about something that happened in the past.)
Consider taking a minute right now and asking God the question that you identified above. (You could do this out loud, you could do this silently, you could write your question on a piece of paper. Be honest - but be respectful.)
“Anger: an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured." - Seneca
“Whenever anger is buried, it is always buried alive.” -Gary Smalley
“… do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Ephesians 4:26b
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
Father God, Please deliver me from all the unresolved and hidden anger I that have ……against You ……against others ……against myself Please cover me with Your mercy Please cover me with Your healing Please help me to forgive Please fill me with Your peace Please help me to trust You more Please help me to praise You more In Jesus’ name I pray Amen.
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Cover image and Page 2 image Copyright 2011 Geronimo De Francesco. Devotional Copyright 2011 Kimberly M. Jones. Permission to copy without fee all or part of this devotional is granted provided that the copies are not made or distributed for direct commercial advantage, the copyright notice and the title of the publication appear, and notice is given that copying is by permission of Kimberly M. Jones.