What Anger Reveals

Ruth

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

—Ephesians 4:31

Not all anger is wrong. But in most cases, whether in the workplace, relationships, or marriage and family, our anger can lean in the direction of unrighteous anger—the sinful and self-seeking kind. This is what the apostle Paul was warning against in Ephesians 4:26 when he wrote, “In your anger do not sin.” The anger God has instructed us to “get rid of”; not some, but “all bitterness, rage, and anger” (v. 31).

The truth is, our anger says a lot more about what is going on inside of us than what is being done to us. Unrighteous anger exposes our selfish and sinful desires. And God wants us to get rid of unrighteous anger because it is destructive to our own souls and has the power to damage the relationships we hold dear.

So how do we allow the Holy Spirit to reveal what change is needed in our hearts? One way is by asking God to show us the selfish and sinful desires that are really driving our actions. The stuff we want more than loving God and loving others. We get angry when we don’t get a promotion at work. We grow resentful toward a friend who doesn’t see things our way. Traffic is moving slowly. Our kids aren’t being quiet enough. We get another interruption when we are trying to focus on something important. Each of these can disrupt what our hearts really want—control, comfort, the need to be right, and so on. The problem with most of our desires is that they are focused on us.

What is the real cause of your anger? Let God search you and expose those desires of your heart that are bent inward. God wants to replace unrighteous anger with something better—He wants to produce in you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23 NLT). Will you let Him?

Father, search me and reveal to me the areas I am struggling with right now. Give me understanding into what is really causing my anger. I repent of my selfish desires. Create in me a heart that desires to honor You and love others more than myself. In Jesus’ name, amen.

What sinful desires are most often at the root of your anger?

What is one way you can “get rid of anger” today?