FEATURED NOVEMBER RADIO MESSAGE
When Life Explodes
by Thomas E. Steele
A l i s t e n e r
recently wrote . . . “My husband has the reputation of- be ing a most kind and sympathetic per
He does delight, to live through them with us. He wants to be in us, all that we need, to be completely victorious in the face of these compounded prob lems. Let’s take a closer look at the specific problem of hostility and the part that PRAYER plays in dealing with it. One psychologist defines hostility as a basic biologic force which varies from person to person in intensity, indul gence, and forms of expression. Physio logically we are told that when chal lenged there is a feeling of anger which arises in the hypothalamus, which in turn stimulates certain glandular and muscular responses. Most of the . . . reactions connected with the emotions of anger and fear release a supply of sugar to the blood and muscles and tend to put the body into a more efficient state for violent and strenuous activity. If we fight or run away, either physically or emo tionally, relaxation and resumption of normal bodily functions will result. (continued on next page) 11
son at his place of employment. The folk at the church really love him and he is extremely popular. But when he comes home from work we never know what to expect. He is sometimes very cruel to myself and the children and often very morose and moody.” Thé situation which she describes I’m sure is not at all uncommon. It is an illus tration of the age old problem of hos tility. A husband who cannot complain, who cannot criticise or speak back to his employer — though he may be seething within—allows these feelings of hostility and aggression to be redi rected upon the very people whom he loves most dearly. As believers we are not escapists; that is we still face and experience the same emotional pressures, we live un der the same tensions and stresses to a degree as those who are not Chris tians. God has not promised to deliver us from these, but He has promised, and
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