Can a person who is chronically angry

[AngelaMarie]

Have a good heart?
Not sure how to articulate the question I am trying to ask, but that is the only thing that is coming to my mind. Im sure it’s a spectrum as are most of human beings with our brokenness.

I’ve had someone apologize to me for something, but they did so in an angry way. There didn’t seem any, or at least very little, contrition of heart. The apology didnt seem genuine

 

[PJH_74]

I that’s a pretty black and white question. There’s nothing requiring to accept this apology as genuine. But you often also have no full idea of why someone did something, even the person might not be fully aware. You can’t necessarily assume that this person did anything to hurt you directly. More often something is going on at the time, maybe something happened in the past. Maybe you were there at the wrong time. Maybe this involved something the person doesn’t like about themselves and it’s hard to visit that part of their lives fully. There are certainly many other things, but that’s a beginning.

 

[Bluebright]

Yes I think they can have a good heart. Really only God can know but you might be able to tell but some people have difficulty using language so may speak in an aggressive way to hide what is really embarrassment or fear, especially fear of rejection. Do you think it was that? If the person is afraid their apology will be rejected it is safer to couch it in an angry tone so if you reject them then they can say, oh I wasnt really apologising… etc. many people use humour for the same reason. It’s a defence mechanism. So yes accept the apology and move on. Pray for them. You are a Christian, give them the benefit of the doubt, just like Jesus would…and did on the cross…

 

[AngelaMarie]

You both bring up very good points. Thank you. I’m gonna guess, based on what I do know, and realizing there is a great deal that I don’t, that a good insight is found in some of the suggestions you both have mentioned.

Thank you