Theme of the Week: Anger
Bible Verse: “In your anger do not sin,” Ephesians 4:26 NIV
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 139:23-24, Philippians 4:6-7
Anger is a powerful and, at times, overwhelming emotion.
As a husband, father, brother, and son, my most shameful memories are the things I’ve said to my family in an outburst of anger.
Whether it was an insult (or object) hurled at a sibling growing up, an unkind response to a parent as a teen, or a hurtful tone taken with a spouse, looking back it’s often anger at the root of the outburst.
However, Ephesians 4:26 clarifies that the emotion of anger itself is not a sin.
So where does that leave us? It seems that anger can actually alert us to injustice, motivate us to take action, and defend what we love. But before we can write off road rage or heated arguments, we have to remain keenly aware of the danger. Anger can also quickly lead us to sin, harm others, and damage our relationship with God.
Here are some practical steps:
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Acknowledge your anger. Don’t deny it or suppress it, but admit it to yourself and to God. He knows how you feel and He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).
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Examine your anger. Ask yourself why you are angry and what is the source of your anger. Is it righteous anger over something that dishonors God or hurts others? Or is it sinful anger over something that threatens your pride or preferences? Be honest and humble before God and ask Him to search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24).
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Express your anger. Don’t bottle it up or explode, but communicate it in a respectful and constructive way. Talk to God about your anger and ask Him to help you deal with it. Talk to someone you trust who can listen, support, and advise you. And if necessary, talk to the person who caused your anger and seek reconciliation (Matthew 18:15-17).
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Release your anger. Don’t hold on to it or let it turn into bitterness or resentment, but let it go and forgive. Remember how much God has forgiven you and extend the same grace to others (Ephesians 4:31-32). Remember how much God loves you and rest in His peace (Philippians 4:6-7).
For the next week, we’ll dig deeper into the topic of anger, looking at how Christ models righteous anger, and also the way we can be pulled into sin by the intoxicating emotion.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, protect our hearts against the intoxicating feelings of anger we wrestle with day to day. Give us a spirit of peace during times of stress and aggravation, and remind us to submit our anger to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Reflection: Today, commit to examining how anger has manifested in your life and the ways it has both caused you to sin and stirred you to positive action.
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