Of all the emotions a person can feel anger is among the strongest. Therefore, handling anger is an important skill. If anger is left, untamed, it will lead to shattered communication that will tear apart relationships and darken the spirit of the person consumed by anger’s flames. The good news is that God’s Word is full of wisdom regarding how to handle anger in a way that glorifies God, blesses you, and benefits others.
It is important to understand that anger is not always sin. Some call this righteous anger. God experiences anger. The psalmist writes: “God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day” (Psalm 7:11). This verse refers to God’s anger directed against those who threaten His followers. The Scriptures teach of anger that acceptable for believers. Paul writes: “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26). It is true, not all anger is sin, but the believer should not be consumed by anger. One’s anger should not even be carried over to the next day, as this will give an opportunity for anger to be stoked and lead to it becoming a consuming fire.
There are two Greek words in the New Testament that are translated as “anger.” One refers to “passion and energy.” The other word means, “agitated or boiling.” Godly anger is always anger the Lord allows to grow within believers to help them solve problems. Such anger is not a response of our self-defense mechanism, but in defense of others or of a principle. For instance, since I believe all life is sacred and made in the image of God, I am angered by human trafficking (modern-day slavery) that exist in our world. With this stated it is essential to recognize that anger at an injustice inflicted against oneself is appropriate.
Anger can be a warning bell allowing the individual to know when others have violated healthy boundaries. Victims of abuse and crime have been violated, and it is natural to feel anger. To find healing the trauma has to be accepted for the tragedy it was. Such a realization will often produce anger. However, the endpoint is not anger, but healing and peace. Therefore, the journey many victims go through to find God’s healing leads them to experience anger but when trusting in the Lord, progresses beyond anger to ultimately find hope and divine rest.
Anger that is sin often is motivated by pride and fueled by growing pride. James is referring to this anger when he writes: “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). This anger is unproductive, distorts God’s purposes, and lingers. Such anger leads to bitterness.
Handling anger biblically begins by seeking God’s wisdom and the counsel of godly believers. Sometimes we need help determining if we are experiencing righteous anger and further if we are handling it in a Christ-like manner. The Lord and Christ followers can help us recognize if our anger is sinful and encourage and equip us to bring it to Him (to God) so that it can be quenched.
The Bible has much more to say about anger. I would encourage each of us to study God’s Word and seek wisdom and God’s leading in dealing with anger when it rises in us. Only when we surrender to the Lord will He bring us to a place that allows righteous anger to lead to godly actions. Only through submitting to God will He empower us to combat ungodly anger and rest in His peace.
I count it as a real blessing to serve alongside each of you in the Lord’s service. I pray we will honestly surrender everything to the Lord, especially our anger. As we surrender God will lead us to action, healing, and divine rest. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!