August 20, 2025 Devo

“Slow to anger.” What a great description. Aren’t you glad that God is “slow to anger” with us? I sure am. It means that God is patient. It means He remembers that we are fallen humans who frequently don’t get it right. It means that He realizes that we are on a never-ending journey of growing and learning, falling and failing, and getting up and trying again. “Slow to anger” means that God is an Encourager, not a Discourager. It means He constantly remains hopeful with us, even in times when we think we are beyond hope.
It means God BELIEVES in us and chooses to stay with us on this journey of constant ups and downs. “Slow to anger” means that God chooses to see us through the eyes of love and grace, instead of through the eyes of judgment. It is that “slow to anger” attitude that draws us back to God when we have fallen away. It shows that He is FOR us and not AGAINST us. And that’s something we ALL need to know! A patient God is an approachable God. It endears us to Him.
You know what else hit me as I meditated on this whole “slow to anger” trait of God? Not how much we need it, or even how thankful we are for it. It’s how little we demonstrate it! God sees us as “people on a journey.” But we look at other people as though they ought to have already arrived. God allows us to try and fail and stumble our way forward. But we often write people off when they struggle or mess up. Think about the last thing that set you off. Think about the last thing that caused you to yell and scream, or huff and puff, or demonstrate your disgust with someone. Were you “slow to anger” with them? If I were to survey the people around you, would they consider you a better Encourager or Discourager? Do the people closest to you know that you love them, believe in them, and that you are for them and not against them?
The sad truth is that some of us who bask in God being slow to anger with us are not very tolerant of others at all. I want to challenge you to spend some moments in quiet reflection. I want to challenge you to sit with God and think long and carefully about how much He has forgiven you and how patient He has been with you. Then think about how you have dealt with those around you this past week or so. Were you compassionate and gracious and “slow to anger?” God not only wants to demonstrate His patience to us, but He also wants to demonstrate His patience THROUGH us. Open your heart today to the God who sees you through eyes of Love and Mercy. Then open your arms to those around you who also need to be loved that way. “Slow to anger” is a wonderful description of God. Let’s make it a wonderful description of us, too. That’s God’s Word for you today.