The Folly Of Anger

Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight. James 1:20

“I can’t believe she left.” This became Ben’s mantra in the months after his wife of fifteen years walked away from their relationship. She told him that his anger was the cause of their marital problems, but he couldn’t see it.

About three months after Ben’s wife left him, he became consumed with crazy thoughts of how to get even. He never would have imagined that he could hurt his own children in order to get back at his ex-wife. But one night he sat in his bedroom thinking up a detailed plot to kill his kids and then take his own life—just to show her how badly she had hurt him.

In the midst of his despair, the words “Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight” echoed within Ben. He had heard that Bible verse but had never understood what it meant. Now it haunted his thoughts.

Ben’s mind ping-ponged back and forth between “I’m so angry” to “I can’t be this angry” until he was completely exhausted. In desperation, Ben cried out—first to God, then to a counselor in the New Life Ministries network. He logged on to www.newlife.com and found a counselor in his area. He met a therapist who allowed him to be brutally honest and who helped him develop a strategy for emotional healing.

Ben has traveled a long, difficult road since that dark day his wife left him, but today he has found there is more power in forgiveness and peace than there is in anger.

Do you believe there is more power in anger than in forgiveness and peace? Or do you believe God when he tells you that hanging on to your anger will never makes things right with you, with those around you, or with him?

Lord, please control my anger before it controls me.