January 17, 2025 Devo

Several years ago, police were called to a home in Gary, IN, where there was a report of a domestic dispute. When police arrived, they discovered that the daughter had been the one to call and that it was more than just a simple dispute. In the heat of a disagreement, the husband began to shove and hit his wife. The police arrested the man, and he was charged with domestic battery. The event obviously caused a crisis for the man’s marriage and for his family. But it did more than that. It cost him his job. His job did not allow a person to continue if they had been convicted of a crime. Especially HIS crime. For several years he had been an anger management counselor for the Gary City Court. I guess it’s easier to teach anger management than it is to actually control it!
Our verse today reminds us that keeping our anger under control is an important part of what it means to be a wise, godly person. Anger itself is not an evil emotion. In fact, God gave us the ability to feel anger to protect ourselves and to be spurred to action when necessary. But anger is like fire. Though it can be of great use and extremely helpful, it can also be quite dangerous. When we let our anger be in charge, we will often end up doing things we shouldn’t do and say things we shouldn’t say. I love the very practical advice David gives: “Think about it overnight and remain silent.” Giving ourselves time to cool down and be thoughtful gives us the opportunity to respond in a much more appropriate way.
Come on, let’s take a moment to confess a bit. How many of us have let our anger be in control in ways we look back on and regret? Anyone ever punch a wall or door and end up with sore or broken knuckles? Anyone ever kick a wall and end up with a broken toe or a hole in a wall that we had to fix? Or how many of us would admit that we’ve said harsh, hurtful things to someone—words we wish we could take back? The worst part of it all? When we let anger have its way, we often become just like the very people we’re angry at…and not very good representatives of Jesus.
Are you angry today? Take a breath. Take a minute. Walk away. Give yourself some time and space to think, pray, and recover. It’s okay to be angry. Just don’t give your anger the keys to drive what you say and do. Bring your anger to the Lord, and let Him help you rein that anger in. Remember, control your anger or your anger will control YOU! That’s God’s Word for you today.