Have you ever known someone whose anger is quickly triggered? Maybe you have that problem yourself? It is a condition that seems to have gotten worse since the Covid epidemic shut everything down for a while. For example road rage incidents have increased dramatically. This is not a new problem. Cain killed his brother, Abel, in a fit of rage. Moses fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian in a fit of rage. It was his disobedience during fits of rage that kept him from entering the promised land, although God let him see it from a mountain top before he died.
Anger is temporary, but the results of our angry words or actions are often permanent. Even when angry actions don’t cause death or serious injury, angry words can damage relationships that no apology can repair. Marriages, close family ties and long friendships have been broken by harsh words or actions during a brief fit of rage. How do we avoid that tragic result? As usual, the answer is found in God’s word.
In his letter to the churches, James writes about the power of the tongue for good and for evil. Chapter 3 begins with a great illustration. We can control a huge horse by placing a small bit in the mouth. As Christians, we have God’s Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts. All we have to do is give Him permission allowing Him to control our mouth and actions when we feel anger building. The more I allow Him to soften my response to things that used to anger me the more I have become Christ-like in my view of the world around me. We must continue to share God’s truth, but we must do it with love and not confrontation.