Anger is such a natural human emotion. It rises up when we feel wronged, unheard, or overwhelmed. Sometimes, it feels justified, even necessary. But I’ve started to wonder—how often does anger get in the way of what God has for us? Could it be that holding onto anger keeps us from fully stepping into our divine purpose?
When I look at the life of Jesus, one thing stands out: He had every reason to be angry, yet He often chose not to be. He was mocked, betrayed, and treated unfairly. People twisted His words, doubted Him, and even plotted against Him. If anyone had the right to live in anger, it was Him. And yet, over and over, He responded with patience, love, and wisdom.
That doesn’t mean Jesus never felt anger. We see Him flip the tables in the temple (Matthew 21:12-13), showing righteous anger at corruption and sin. But what stands out is how rarely He let anger control Him. He didn’t let it become His response to personal attacks, disappointments, or injustice. Instead, He leaned into peace, grace, and obedience to the Father.
I think about my own moments of anger—the times I let frustration harden my heart, the times I held onto bitterness instead of letting it go. In those moments, I wasn’t drawing closer to God; I was pushing Him away. My anger clouded my ability to hear Him, to love others well, and to trust that He was working even when things felt unfair.
Maybe that’s the real danger of anger. Not just that it makes us say things we regret, but that it distances us from Jesus. It shifts our focus away from Him and onto our emotions, our hurts, our sense of justice. But Jesus calls us to something higher. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” (James 1:19). Not because anger is always wrong, but because it often distracts us from what really matters.
So, I’m asking myself (and you): Is anger keeping us from what God wants to do in our lives? Are we holding onto it so tightly that we’re missing out on His peace, His presence, and His greater purpose?
If so, maybe it’s time to follow Jesus’ example—choosing peace over pride, grace over grudges, and trust over control. Because when we let go of anger, we make more room for Him.
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