January 08, Anger’s Purpose

Today’s reading: Psalms 36-40

“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil” - Psalm 37:8.

Anger is a normal human emotion that God gave you to spur you on to righteous action. Anger can become a problem whenever you do two things: 1) internalize it, which leads to your mind running wild with anxiety as you replay the situation that offended you and proceed to develop and rehearse revenge scenarios; or 2) express it improperly through angry words or actions intended to hurt others emotionally or physically. Your job is to control your anger and quickly channel it in positive ways. It will help to remember what Paul wrote: “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (Ephesians 4:26). That verse indicates that you can be angry and not sin. Can you see that anger is intended to motivate you to do something, and it’s what you do that can be the problem, not the anger itself? Have you been trying to suppress your anger instead of facing it?