UNPACK This...Letting Go of AngerSample

The Angry Warriors

The Golden State Warriors were undoubtedly the most talented team in the NBA during the 2017-18 season.

But even with all of their talent, there were serious concerns with the team early in the year, as Golden State players seemed to be getting ejected from contests left and right.

In acknowledging his team’s anger problem, head coach, Steve Kerr said, “We’re not composed out there. We’re a championship team. We have to be poised and we have to execute out there. We’re getting way too emotional, myself included. I have to do a better job of that, too. But you got to show some poise when things aren’t going our way.”

It was perplexing to see the reigning champs so angry. Maybe they were expecting to get every call…or other teams figured out how to rattle them…or the pressure to win was too intense…or they weren’t satisfied with what they had accomplished up to that point.

Unfortunately, many of us can relate to similar feelings of anger and frustration in our own lives. We can easily lack poise and lose our cool.

Usually, we act that way for similar reasons as the Warriors, such as expecting everything to always go our way, allowing others to rattle us, letting the pressure build-up, or never being satisfied.

As followers of Jesus, we can’t justify these emotions taking over our lives. Instead, we must rely on God’s power to help us fight against these feelings.

The Bible makes it clear in James 1:19-20: “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.”

We’re challenged in Ecclesiastes 7:9: “Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger dwells in the heart of fools.”

Today, let’s resolve not to be an angry fool. Instead, let’s rely on the peace of God to calm us and His love to always satisfy us.

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that I have lost my temper and let frustrations and disappointing circumstances make me angry. I pray I wouldn’t allow pressures and dissatisfaction to take over but rather rely on Your peace and power to keep me calm. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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