Looking Through the Lens of Anger
“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” -Ephesians 4:26-27
- Anger is appropriate at certain times.
- Anger must be resolved, or it becomes sinful.
- Anger can be curtailed.
- Anger, if not stopped, can be used by Satan.
- Anger, if prolonged, gives ground to Satan.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” -Ephesians 4:29-30
- Anger can lead to unwholesome talk.
- Anger can grieve the Holy Spirit.
- Anger can be totally cancelled.
- Anger becomes sin when it results in bitterness.
- Anger must be eradicated before it turns to rage.
- Anger must be let go before it leads to fighting.
- Anger must be overcome before it leads to slander.
- Anger must be mastered before it becomes malicious.
- Anger can be conquered through kindness and compassion.
- Anger can be fought and defeated through forgiveness.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” -Ephesians 4:31-32
Questions about Anger
“Is it a sin to be angry?”
No. The initial feeling of anger is a God-given emotion. The way you respond or express these feelings determines whether you have allowed your anger to become sin. The Bible says,
“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” -Ephesians 4:26
“How can I keep from feeling guilty when I’m angry?”
Your anger is a signal that something is wrong – like the red warning light on the dashboard of a car. The purpose of the light is to propel you to action… to cause you to stop and investigate what is wrong and then to take appropriate action. Jesus became angry at the hypocrisy and stubborn hearts of the religious leaders. As a result, He fully restored a man’s crippled hand on the Sabbath.
“He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.” -Mark 3:5
Wrong Belief
“Based on what I believe is fair, I have the right to be angry about the disappointments in my life.”
Right Belief
“Since the Lord is sovereign over my life and I trust Him with my life, I have yielded my rights to Him. My human disappointments are now God’s appointments for Christ to increase my faith and develop His character in me.”
Click here for the PDF version of the complete Anger Resource Guide provided by Hope for the Heart.