Anger:–noun

1. a strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong

2. wrath, ire

3. hostility

I have a hard time watching the evening news these days because we live in such an angry world. Anger seems to be on the upswing with no end in sight. The evening news continually reports that people are angry at our government, angry within our government, angry at anything and everything that doesn’t fit the mold we think should exist. Anger is a powerful emotion. I wonder if anyone has ever counted the cost of anger? What has uncontrolled anger taken away from us? For many, the cost is too large to calculate.

Anger is a powerful motivator. It is something that all of us feel and struggle with at times. But how we deal with anger really determines the course of our lives. Uncontrolled anger will poison us from the inside out.

The Scripture says, “Be angry…” Ephesians 4:26a. (That’s not a command that most of us put on our refrigerator. It just doesn’t sound right, does it?) As I see it, the Bible acknowledges that we will be angry. But the command doesn’t stop there. It says, “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” Ephesians 4:26-27 NASB If we could figure out how to consistently obey this command, it would save us a lot of grief. Wouldn’t you agree?

In this life, we must learn to control our anger or it will control us. James warns us to be slow to anger. Lord, will you teach us to walk in self-control when it comes to anger? Teach us to harness this strong human emotion so that we live righteous lives that please You; lives that don’t bring harm to others.