As a busy mommy of nine, I've experienced my share of angry outbursts---both from me and from my children. Perhaps a little one got into big sister's art supplies...again. Maybe I've asked for "quiet voices while the baby sleeps" one too many times. On any given day, stressful situations often pop up without warning.
I haven't always been so good at controlling my anger. As a teenager, I found myself in more than a couple fist fights with those who pushed me too far, and I remember times when I've been the queen of cutting words.
But, over time, maturity in Christ has changed my heart and I'm learning that there are definitely more appropriate responses to anger.
"In your anger, do not sin." ~Ephesians 4:26
Notice the verse doesn't tell us not to be angry. It doesn't call anger a sin.
There are very appropriate times in our lives for anger---it's a God-given emotion with the purpose of spurring us into action.
- All over the world right now there are children being kidnapped and victimized in the name of lust, addiction, and greed. This should make us angry.
- Satan is messing with the majority of marriages in devastating ways. He's even got many convinced that the holy covenant of marriage is archaic and unimportant. This should make us angry.
Then there's the little things like a loved one who has betrayed, a punk who throws around God's holy name carelessly, a bully who is causing my child to question his own worth. Then there are the really little things...
These are all instances to get angry about. Anger is OK. It's how we deal with the anger that matters.
There are a lot of really big things people can do to deal with these situations in a non-sinful way.
- Rescue teens off the streets and give them a safe haven and a fresh start.
- Offer Christian counseling and mediation to a hurting couple.
- Round up punks, offer them a toothbrush for their filthy mouths and a ride to church.
But are these really big fixes feasible for this busy mommy of nine---are they feasible for you?
Often times they're not...and that's OK too.
The biggest thing any of us can do in any anger-inducing situation is to PRAY.
Prayer really does change things because every prayer plants a seed.
You've heard the term, "the flood gates of Heaven." Every prayer adds more and more pressure behind those floodgates and pretty soon they burst open with answers...and peace...and fixes to problems.
There are many good solutions to the problem of sin that brings us to the point of anger, but the very best solution, and the one we can all take part in at any time, is prayer.
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" ~Philippians 4:6
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Linking With:
Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy
Modest Monday @ The Modest Mom
Teach Me Tuesdays @ Growing Home
Titus 2sdays @ The Time Warp Wife
Tuesday @ Courtship Connection
Women Helping Women @ Teaching What Is Good
Homemaking Linkup @ Raising Homemakers
Encourage One Another @ Deep Roots at Home
Whole Hearted Home Wednesday
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Inspire Me Wednesday @ MamaBuzz
Desire to Inspire @ A Royal Daughter
Legacy Leaver Thursday
Winsome Wednesday @ My Daily Walk in His Grace
Essential Friday @ Essential Things Devotions
Thriving Thursday @ Serving Joyfully
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8 comments:
Great post, and so true! We all get to that breaking point sometimes when we say words we don't mean, out of anger or frustration. This is something I pray for myself frequently. In fact, as I was reading this, I told my 6 year old, "Stop doing that; you're going to spill the crayons." Lo and behold...he spilled the crayons...onto the baby. Guess it was a good time for me to be reading this, lol. I didn't even raise my voice at him. :) I always loved the verse "Do not let the sun go down on your anger" and try really hard to live by that. Thanks for the inspiring post. :)
LOVE your idea of rounding up punks and giving them toothbrushes! I wish we could! I appreciate your honesty with something I think almost everyone deals with but no one wants to talk about. Great verses.
Hello there,
I was linking to Melody's meme and found your blog was featured. It's absolutely awesome.
I am into tablescaping with a dash of my own recipes and my style. Hope this is acceptable in your link.
Have a nice week,
Greetings from a frozen Stockholm,
/CC girl
Great reminder! I was reading something similar in my quiet time this morning. :)
I love that your picture is a redhead! I sometimes brush aside my temper with an excuse about being a redhead (I'm half joking!), but this is certainly something I could spend some time considering. Thanks for the post.
This is one of the greatest challenges in my life right now.
Great perspective, and I'm so glad that you shared that anger in and of itself is not a sin. God is angered by sin, but He does not sin. It's a difficult balance though, at least for me!
This is a well written post on the proper way to handle anger. There is a lot of gold within this post. Thanks for sharing this over at WholeHearted Home this week. Have a wonderful week and enjoy your sweet little baby Brenna.
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