Christian 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)

Dear Father,

I am thankful that you acknowledge our human nature. We will get angry and you do not tell us that we shouldn't. By your words you take away the guilt we might feel when anger rises in us. I know in this teaching that you are not talking about holy and righteous anger, anger we should feel when the weak and defenseless are oppressed or when people are acting divisively within your Son's body, the church. Though even in that case, in our anger we should not sin.

But this teaching is about anger that arises naturally when we, or someone we love, is slighted or mistreated.  Help these children to know that it is acceptable to feel anger in that case. But help them also to understand this teaching - that they need to hold lightly to anger and drop it quickly (whether or not the issue that led to the anger has been resolved). They should drop anger quickly not only because it is part of loving others as you have loved us, but also because, as this scripture teaches, holding on to anger will give satan a foothold. Held anger will destroy them from the inside and will lead them to evil and sinful actions of retaliation. Give them the wisdom and courage to treat anger as a hot piece of coal, quickly dropped before it causes damage.

Amen