How Do You Respond When Angry?

July 17, 2021

“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”   Ephesians 4:26

“Don’t let the sun set on your anger because the devil will get a foothold in your life.” (My Paraphrase of Ephesians 4:26.) This is one of those verses that I share with young couples before marriage. Why? Because differences exist in any kind of relationship – think about conflicts you’ve had with friends, family, and even colleagues.

We will all be tempted to lose our cool and become angry, but we need to deal with the situation then and there. Don’t let it simmer and prolong, making the problem grow even greater. Confront it and confess it.

How do we do that?

  1. Don’t Lose Your Cool: Losing our temper is not only sinful, it’s destructive for both ourselves and very often for others. Try to remain calm BEFORE losing your temper.
  2. Act vs. React: Choose how you ACT rather than allowing anger to dictate your reaction. So, act in a positive way. Get hold of yourself; it’s that important.
  3. Confront when Necessary: Confrontation is often necessary to clear the air and address issues and even misunderstandings that lead to disagreement and frustrations. But be sure to check your attitude when you confront another. Be firm, but not mean, when someone steps out of line.
  4. Confess It: If you’re the one in the wrong,  confess your sin first to God and then to that person. Ask for forgiveness and move on. Don’t make excuses for your behavior – that will only further irritate the person you’ve hurt. Keep it simple: “I was wrong. I’m sorry.” This doesn’t mean that every person we wrong will accept our apology, but God’s Word is clear: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” (Romans 12: 18)

How do you respond when angry? Don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Confront it. Confess it. And remember that Jesus got angry, but never sinned. Jesus is the perfect example of how to deal with anger in the best possible way.