Monday, September 18, 2023

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.

Proverbs 16:32

Today, we continue our conversation about being wounded. Anytime we are wounded, there is a perpetrator and a victim. One of the emotions the victim experiences is anger. We know that life is not fair, but it becomes more unjust when we find ourselves wounded victims. The fact of the matter is that some of us hang on to anger because we feel it punishes the perpetrator for what we experienced. Some of us choose to deny that anger even exists.

The Word of the Lord (Ephesians 4:26) says that we are to be angry and sin not. Jesus became angry when his people were buying and selling in the temple, subverting the house of worship for financial gain. Anger, many times, can be the fuel to make needed change. Those who were angry about slavery were able to channel that energy into abolishing slavery. Those who saw some of the civil injustices in the 1960’s became a part of the civil rights movement. If we channel anger properly, we can use it to process and channel our situation in a way that brings about something good.

King Solomon says that it is best to pace ourselves and be patient. That person is better than a warrior. If we can control ourselves, then we can wield much power. We can use our anger to help ourselves and others.

PRAYER: Lord, you say in your Word to be angry and sin not. I have been wounded by others and sometimes I deal with anger because of the pain they inflicted on me. Lord, teach me to be patient with myself and others. I need your self-control, especially in my anger, so that I do not sin. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.