A Faith That Works When Life Doesn’t: Part 1Sample

Not All Anger Is Sinful

Many people think that all anger is sinful, but that’s not true. Anger only becomes sin when it is expressed in an inappropriate way.

Sometimes the most appropriate response to a situation is anger. It can even be an expression of love. In fact, the Bible says God gets righteously angry, and the only reason you're able to experience anger is because you're created in his image.

But there is such a thing as sinful anger. This is when we blow up or clam up. It’s when we threaten, insult, or belittle someone.

While mismanaged anger is a sin, managed anger is an asset because it gives you a clear-headed view of the situation and allows you to respond with God’s love—even if you’ve been wronged.

Because God is for you and not against you, he gives you the ability to choose how to handle your anger. With the Holy Spirit working within you, you can choose a healthy response.

Have you ever been in a heated argument at home, and the phone rang and you answered it by sweetly saying, "Hello"? What just happened? You were able to change your tone instantly because you wanted to.

Proverbs 29:11 says, "Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back" (NLT).

Choosing to get angry is just that—a choice. You’ve probably said at some point, "You make me so mad!" But nobody can control your emotions without your permission. You can decide beforehand how you will respond and manage your anger.

Your relationship with Christ will determine how well you master the anger in your life. Even in a crisis, in the most difficult of situations, you can manage your anger with God's love inside you.

And when anger is managed wisely and appropriately, it produces great marriages, great friendships, great businesses, great leaders, and great progress.

Talk It Over

• How does it help you to figure out beforehand how you will manage your feelings of anger?
• Why does mismanaged anger damage relationships and potentially progress into even more problems?
• Has there been a time when you have been righteously angry? How did you control your response?

This devotional © 2021 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.