Forty Days in the Psalmsਨਮੂਨਾ

A few months ago, my wife and I had a disagreement. Frustration turned to anger, leading to hurtful comments. I wasn't happy; I was ashamed and disappointed in my ability to listen. My anger led to sin, which I needed to repent of—and I did.

Feeling anger is human. It's not necessarily a sin to feel it. However, anger often feels justified when it isn't and seems productive, like, “If I don’t show anger, will they know how serious I am?” But it rarely leads to progress.

This is especially true when witnessing abuse, deceit, or hypocrisy. It's hard to pray for my enemies. I have to ask myself, “Do I want them to repent?” Or do I just want justice?

Meditating on Psalm 37 helps when I'm angry, especially verses 7 and 8: "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil."

When I'm angry, I need a stillness of soul before the Lord. Quieting my inner lawyer and getting before God gives me perspective. If I give my enemies to Him and wait for His Justice, I find better solutions. Fretting and worrying? That “tends only to evil.” Emphasize “only.” Wrathful fretting is a dead end.

In the moment, it feels like a solution. My emotions say, “Now you’re getting somewhere! Tell them how you really feel!” Or lying awake, wondering when they'll get what’s coming to them. How is that working for you?

David offers a better course of action. Talk to God about them. Be still. Lament their stubbornness to God. Then wait patiently for His Intervention. If He intervenes, it will be fair and right. If you pick up the tool of wrath, it won't end well.

We learn so much from Jesus' Life. He often demonstrated restraint. How patient was He with Judas? With James and John, the Sons of Thunder? His stillness before His accusers? His silence when unjustly condemned? He trusted in His Father's Goodness. He was still in His soul and waited patiently for His Father’s Commendation.

RESPOND IN PRAYER:

There’s plenty for us to pray about here, isn’t there? Avoid the danger of leaning on the hope of verse 4 (God giving you your desires) without dwelling on the truth of verses 5-8: “Refrain from anger…fret not. It tends only to evil.”