Anger and Peace
I don’t know why or how but I have gone from someone who would say she doesn’t have a temper (which I don’t actually think is possible) to someone who struggles, often daily, to keep my new temper in check. I can feel my nostrils flare, my pulse pick up, and the running mantra of how something is unfair, or hurtful, or wrong gets loud in my mind. I want to take action; I want to release the anger and make myself feel better (which often means making someone else feel worse).
The older I get the more often I find myself getting stirred up to anger over small things as well as large things. Anger is part of the human experience. But human anger leads to sin. We need to immobilize it. The Bible addresses how to do that with directions given in James.
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:19
These are important steps to take when anger stirs. God calls us to righteousness and this clearly names “human anger” as opposing that righteousness. The first step back towards God is a call to listen. Listening creates space from intrusive thoughts and provides us with new or clarifying information. We may realize after listening that we shouldn’t be angry. Many situations that include anger also include misunderstanding. Listening may include seeking wisdom from someone else. Often, another person can help us see the consequences of reacting in our anger, or make suggestions for how to disengage from sinful behavior often brought about by anger. Listening should include prayer so we can hear God’s thoughts.
The second step is “slow to speak”. Yeah….. (as a side note, in elementary school, I spent many recess periods writing out of the dictionary for talking in class instead of playing with my friends). So, not only is anger difficult to manage, for me, being slow to speak is ALWAYS an extra challenge. So, if listening first creates space, we can then think of what to say, or not to say, next. (I usually take extra time after listening to really gather my thoughts. I have a sharp tongue and quick quips are a feature of both my humor and my unkindness.) Slowing our tongue literally takes the bite out of a sinful response fueled by anger (see Proverbs 15:4 and 21:23).
But God doesn’t call us just to immobilize our anger, God calls us to seek peace. This is a whole different ball game. A verse in Psalms gives very clear instructions. “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalms 34:14
Most of us who struggle with anger know full well that our thoughts and reactions in that state are sinful; sin is evil. In this verse we are told to literally change direction; to turn and to do good; like going from south to north. Forcing our mind and heart to turn is hard, and when we are angry it can seem almost impossible. That’s why listening as well as slowing our speech are important. They help us with the about-face needed here. We need to seek peace and peace is usually the last thing we are thinking of when we are angry. However, when anger has passed and hasn’t resulted in further injury or regret, we often can feel a measure of peace. It’s a nice place to be.
This verse doesn’t stop at seeking. Pursuing peace is the final direction. We need to regularly listen and slow down to keep peace in the forefront. And who doesn’t want more peace? God can handle our angry thoughts and feelings and His Word tells us what to do. Let’s start listening, slowing down and experiencing the peace God desires for us.
