Wednesday’s Thought

Monday’s article on my brokenness and struggle with anger and impatience with my kids seemed to really hit a chord with many. To that end, I’m going to take a few weeks (maybe 2-3) and try to share some of the things that have helped me over the years in this battle. Be on the lookout for another longer blog article on Monday on some practical ways to deal with anger and impatience in parenting. But for today, I wanted to share a few verses that I go back to again and again when I feel that anger or frustration welling up inside.

“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” Proverbs 16:32

“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:9

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19

I have repeated these verses (and more) to myself over the years. Certain verses have really struck me and softened my heart at different times. If you’re struggling with this right now, grab your bible– if it has an index, turn to anger and look up those verses. If your bible doesn’t have an index, you can just google it. There are so many verses on anger. Pick whichever one is standing out to you the most and write it down on an index card or piece of paper and then put it somewhere you will see it throughout the day. Pray that verse as you go throughout your day. This is not a miracle drug, it won’t make you perfect in a day. But it does soften the heart and it does line us up with truth about our feelings. Let’s not let our feelings rule the day today, let’s cling to truth.