by Angela S. Young

Created on: May 13, 2010

"The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."  (James 1:20 KJV) This is one of my signature verses that I remind myself of frequently so that I can "be angry and sin not." (Ephesians 4:26) And yet I struggle sometimes with the difference between my wrath and righteous wrath. 

When someone harms someone I love, the wrath flares up, and I have to hit my knees.  It is only through an intense time alone with God, seeking Him and His mind, that I can determine whether my wrath is righteous or something else entirely.  In my time with my Lord, I seek His mind through His Word, and through His Spirit.  He often brings to mind some hidden (or not so hidden) sin in my life when I want to proceed in wrath, even when God says no.  The following are some ideas that can help a person analyze and diffuse anger in a healthy, Biblical way.

1.  Prayer.  Prayer is, of course, the first recourse, as we seek God’s face and His understanding of the situation.  Our sense of justice is not the same as God’s.  Sometimes He has a purpose in another person’s life, and wants us to let Him handle it. Often, real prayer, real seeking of God’s peace, is all that we need to calm our anger.

2.  Scripture.  Many verses about anger are found in the Bible.  Use the concordance in the back of your Bible or a separate concordance, possibly on-line, to find scripture having to do with anger.  What do these verses tell you about your particular situation?  Chances are, you will find something in God’s Word to help you.

3.  Questions.  A personalized list of questions, based on the circumstances and what God’s Word has to say give us a place to start in analyzing anger we can’t seem to shake.  It helps us pinpoint the underlying issues and bring the truth to light.  The truth will set you free.

-Am I angry because my pride was pricked? 

-Who am I really angry with?

-What is the underlying reason for my wrath?

-Will my actions help or harm the situation?

-Will my actions interfere with what God is doing in another person’s life?

-Can I act without allowing my anger to color my response?

-Do my intended actions align with the will and mind of God?

-Is this my business to take care of?

4.  Godly counsel.  Whether this counsel is from a friend, a pastor, or a professional counselor, talking it out with someone else sometimes helps

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