Editor's Note: Do you need sound, Biblically-based advice on an issue in your marriage or family?  Dr. David Hawkins, director of the Marriage Recovery Center, will address questions from Crosswalk readers in his weekly column. Submit your question to TheRelationshipDoctor@gmail.com.

It is one thing to let out a yelp when you hit your thumb with a hammer. It's even understandable when, after a scary fender bender, you mutter a few words under your breath. Perhaps you've even been known to scream at the neighbor's dog for using your yard as a bathroom.

Anger is a normal emotion and we're all quite familiar with it. The small percentage of people who cannot relate to this emotion, in all likelihood, have developed other mechanisms for quelling this uncomfortable emotion—alcohol consumption, sleep, withdrawal, distractions.

This article is especially for those of you who feel stuck in their anger. For you, anger is a constant companion. Your mate does things, says things, thinks things that simply make you mad. While you are able to push it down, being pleasant to your work mates, you know there's a cauldron of MAD gurgling in the pit of your stomach. What to do about it?

Consider this letter from a man recently who admits being stuck in anger.

Dear Dr. David. While my wife and I don't fight all that often, and things are actually pretty good at times, I'm always angry. She notices my anger and says I've got to do something about it or our marriage is at stake. I'm not sure what to think. Sometimes I think she is right—I have an anger problem. At other times I watch what she does and think any red-blooded man in my shoes would be angry too. She does so many things that I think are unreasonable and inappropriate. Of course, she disagrees. So, if I argue with her about the reason for my anger, I'm wrong and accused of being angry. If I shut up, I simmer with anger and nothing changes. So, I'm stuck and would love your feedback on our situation. ~ Angry and Admitting It

Dear Angry,

Let's get some things straight about our emotions. That should help you decide your course of action.

First, emotions are God-given and are neither right nor wrong. What we do with our emotions are right and wrong. Reading Scripture reveals every character—every one, including Jesus, displayed emotions. It is our thoughts, motives and actions that are deemed right or wrong. (Hebrews 4: 12)