Thinking before speaking

I think it’s safe to say we’ve all been there. We have all been frustrated with others and/or felt like we have been treated unfairly, and so out of our minds boiling with anger that we literally feel like we are going to explode.

There have definitely been times when I have felt mistreated and wanted to respond in anger. And, there have been times when I actually DID respond out of anger, letting me temper get the best of me in the heat of the moment. And those moments are certainly none that I am proud of.

So what does the Bible say about all of this? About responding in anger when people treat us unfairly?

It says a lot, actually. But everything it says boils down to one simple point: never respond out of anger. Never, ever let your temper get the best of you. I know it may seem like it will ‘feel good’ after you get the anger out of your system, but I promise you (speaking from experience here), it NEVER feels better afterwards. You only feel guilty for speaking rudely to the other person (even if they were the ones who spoke rudely to you first).

If someone has spoken rudely to you and/or treated you unfairly, I am so sorry friend. I am. But I would encourage you to take the higher road, and instead of yelling at the other person and responding to them in anger, consider doing these things instead:

1. Take some deep breaths.

2. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you in this moment to not speak out of anger or in haste.

3. Pray for the other person.

4. Walk away if you need to.

—> This is by no means the only things you can/should do when you are tempted to speak out of anger, but they are a start. The point is that you PAUSE, and pray and ask the Holy Spirit to enable you to be silent when all you want to do is scream or to yell at the other person. Pray and ask the Lord to give you patience, and to enable you to turn the other cheek when someone treats you unfairly. And remember that God is your ultimate vindicator.

Matthew 5:38-40: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well”, (NIV).

Luke 18:7b-8a: “So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant them justice quickly!” (NLT)

James 1:19: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires”, (NIV).