Hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, dissensions, envy, and murder are all tied to anger, a force that need not manifest as rage or fury. Even when hidden and lacking visible intensity, anger remains a destructive problem. When allowed to develop for the wrong reasons, directed at the wrong targets, or kept inside, nursed, and secretly enjoyed, this hidden anger eats away at a person. It steals joy, limits potential, and keeps one miserable, reaching out to injure anyone who becomes a suitable target. Alarmingly, such anger can remain concealed even to the person harboring it, yet it reveals itself in subtle, indirect, and elusive ways.

Anger can often be hidden, manifesting in subtle, indirect, and deceptive ways. Some individuals harbor a burning motivation within, driving them to wickedness, regardless of the harm caused to others, and they may even take pleasure in the suffering of others. These are angry individuals whose hidden anger finds expression through creative and concealed means. A violent person might entice a neighbor into wrongdoing, using deceptive gestures like winking or pursing lips to conceal their evil intentions. Hidden anger can also appear in small, secret acts that cause minor damage, just enough to diminish another. It may show itself in purposeful unfaithfulness to commitments, creating chaos in others' lives, or through intentional procrastination to unsettle others. It can manifest in doing tasks poorly out of reluctance, refraining from doing good when capable, or giving mixed messages to confuse others. Hidden anger might involve withholding crucial information as punishment, secretly rejoicing in another's misfortune, or sulking when a rival succeeds. Though these actions may seem minor, they reveal a heart driven by anger, unfit for God's Family. In contrast, Jesus teaches that His disciples are marked by love, prioritizing others' well-being, even at personal cost, without rudeness, selfishness, or provocation.

Anger, when hidden, often manifests as passive-aggressive behavior, a subtle and indirect form of aggression. This type of anger can be expressed through verbal ambiguity, avoiding responsibility, blaming others, chronic lateness, intentional inefficiency, manipulation, superficial submissiveness, back-handed compliments, fault-finding, withholding information, sullenness, and procrastination. At its root lies unresolved anger, often stemming from childhood power struggles with a harsh or intractable parent, leading to ingrained patterns that persist into adulthood. Latent anger becomes the lens through which the world is viewed, making passive-aggressive behavior second nature. Wrath, whether open or subtle, can target those unrelated to its source, becoming a learned and practiced habit. Yet, these habits can be broken and replaced with appropriate responses. Healing from such emotional wounds is possible if one is willing to acknowledge the brokenness and seek God's healing, which may be instant or a gradual process. Counsel from Psalm 37:7-9 urges resting in the LORD, waiting patiently for Him, ceasing from anger, and forsaking wrath, as fretting only causes harm. Letting go of anger and submitting to God's sovereignty are vital, freeing one from indignation, resentment, and antagonism. Those who meekly wait on the LORD, rather than harboring hidden anger, are promised an everlasting inheritance, reflecting the quality of their relationship with the Father and the Son.