Dealing With Anger

James 1:19-20

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

It happens in the work place, in our families, and yes, even in “the family of faith” – our churches. Anger is a journey. It often begins with a hurt, a slight, or a simple misunderstanding. We all have our triggers. What is it that sets you off? Maybe you’ve been left out, disrespected, or unfairly criticized. Maybe it’s being blamed for someone else’s screwup or the blatant betrayal of a trusted friend. You’re irritated. You’re frustrated. You’re angry. Left undealt with, that anger can grow, leading you down a path of bitterness, regret, and even broken relationships.

James teaches that controlling our anger begins with rooting ourselves in the Word of God. It’s when we align ourselves with God’s Word that guides us and shapes us, that our lives begin to line up with the character of God.  A simple tip: Listen first THEN speak. Be good listeners and slow talkers (James 1:19-20). When those feelings of anger spark, take a deep breath and count to ten before speaking. This will slow you down on the way to anger. And never, ever postpone dealing with your anger. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger and allow Satan to get a hold of another moment through your anger (Ephesians 4:26). You’ll be glad. I promise you that.