I was so angry last week I wanted to yell. But…with yelling
usually comes saying things I shouldn’t. (I kind of know this from experience.)
So, before I went huffing and puffing into the next room, I prayed.
I asked God to hold my tongue
and not let me say what I was thinking. And then I asked Him to help me calm
down and diffuse the emotions that were overcoming me.
I didn’t always know to do this, to ask God to keep me from
speaking. And even though I know it now,
Or maybe not speaking at all.
A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. Proverbs 15:1 NLT
My words were going to be harsh. Anger does that. It makes
us act in ugly ways.
God created us with emotions, and anger is a human emotion. It’s
not a sin to be angry, but how we act while angry can be sinful.
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV
Acting and speaking out of anger fuels the fire in a
disagreement. It keeps it going back and forth, and no one wins. Except the
enemy. Satan loves it when we give him an easy way in, and uncontrolled anger
is an open door.
Whatever I was angry about last week was not worth it. I
stayed where I was until I felt calmer. I was still angry, but not like I had
been. I believe God answered my prayer by keeping me still and my voice silent.
It’s a prayer I’m trying to pray more often.
A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. Proverbs 12:16 NLT
This post begins a new series titled Anger…regaining control. I’d love to hear your feedback. Whether it’s a quick temper or feelings built up over the years, do you struggle with anger?
I don’t have a specific time frame for how long this series will run; we’ll just see how it goes. (Please note: I’m not trained in anger management, counseling, or anything in between. I’m just writing from my own experiences and what God is showing me through His Word.)
Laura
I grew up in a family that yelled ALL THE TIME. I thought it was normal until I graduated high school and realized that other people did not communicate the way my family did ... It's a battle for me to not yell when I get angry but God has done such a work in my heart that it doesn't happen very often anymore. :)
ReplyDeleteKnowing when (and how) to speak and when to remain silent is definitely a gift of grace. Anger featured a lot in my childhood. Both parents had issues they didn't deal with very well, and neither of them had a relationship with God.
ReplyDeleteI seem to have picked up on wanting to unleash my tongue when upset, but as a Christian I can see how unwise that usually is. In learning how to listen better to God, to rest in Him and yield my feelings to Holy Spirit's instruction, I am now able to be less vocal and react more from a position of love and desire for reconciliation than I could before. This new series sounds needful! Every blessing to you, Laura, as you share the lessons God is teaching you about anger. Blessed to be your neighbour at the #coffeeforyourheart link up. :)
Thank you for such a vulnerable post! Partnering with anger is so destructive. You have refreshed my mind with what the scripture says on this subject. All the best as you study this topic out to keep feeding us all such powerful revelation! Blessings.
ReplyDeleteNot speaking when we are angry takes a ton of self control. This is something I definitely have to work on. Usually when I get angry I want to attack back, which always ends bad. Such a great reminder to wait before reacting. Thanks for sharing at #TellHisStory.
ReplyDeleteAnger management must be a lucrative program nowadays. Everywhere I look people seem angry at something/someone.
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it, I might need one too. :)
But thank God for always comforting me when I need it the most.
Definitely an important subject for the days at hand. I believe a lot of the violence we're seeing in our country is a result of uncontrolled anger. Of course, that is more extreme that what you're sharing here, but not controlling your temper with those you love is one step upon a slippery slope. May God guide you and bless you as you study and share on this topic, Laura.
ReplyDeleteLaura - this is a such needed series. Anger is something that is so destructive to relationships and to our own health as well. You wrote: "Acting and speaking out of anger fuels the fire in a disagreement." This is so true!!! I appreciate you taking on a difficult subject and being transparent about it. Thank you for bring spiritual truth to us on a topic that is definitely a hot topic. I am your neighbor at #LetUsGrow
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great series. Anger is an important subject to tackle that affects us all. I don't tend to lash out but I am more likely to bottle it up and close myself off from the relationship which is not healthy either. It is important to take it to God, to acknowledge our anger and to let him help us deal with it in a healthy way. Visiting from Let Us Grow.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great topic. As we live in community, we will be faced with difficult people and situations. This is where we have an opportunity to truly exercise our faith. This is also the opportunity to fall flat on our face and misrepresent Christ if we aren't careful. Thanks so much! I'm glad I found you on the loft linkup. Blessings! beckielindsey16.com
ReplyDeleteGreat topic! Being self-controlled while angry is a hard thing to learn. Looking forward to hearing more. I found you from the Fresh Market Friday linkup. I invite you to add your link to my linkup page at Monday Meditations linkup www.laurajdavis.com/monday-meditations
ReplyDeleteGod Bless!