4 minute read 
by Bethany Rees 

“Dear…” Series: Many of us put on a brave face or wear a mask to hide our internal struggles with: guilt, fear, comparison, unworthiness, regret, unforgiveness, rejection, anger, and grief. The “Dear…” series is dedicated to shedding light, hope, and freedom on these internal battles that we often face alone. BUT, we are not alone! Because of Jesus, we can win our battles and find freedom.

Dear Anger,

You no longer have access to the control panel of my emotions, nor do you get to drive my reactions to situations and people.

You’ve worked hard to try to make me into a sensitive bomb that explodes with foolishness at the smallest of inconveniences or signs of a challenge. 

You love the chaos that your lack of self-control creates in a situation and a relationship. 

Anger, God has shown me your evil plans for my life, and He has changed my heart and mind concerning you. 

I Confess: 

Anger, your irritability, rage, and hostility when things don’t go your way reveal the evil intent behind your selfish actions. 

But I confess that I’ve believed your lies about how others are in the wrong and I am in the right, so they deserve to get what’s coming to them in my fits of rage. I’ve blindly followed your path of blaming others for the injustices in my life for far too long.

It is I that allowed you to destroy all self-discipline in my emotions, words, and actions. I allowed you to speak the most evil of words to another human being and to act in manner that honors evil instead of my Lord. 

Your facade of justice and righteousness is nothing more than a selfish heart wanting retribution, and now I see you for what you really are:  

• A bully that has forced your way into my heart and mind so that you obtain power over my emotions, words, and actions
• A liar telling me that others deserve to be punished for exasperating me
• An oppressor that tries to force others into submission of your will and your ways 
• An enemy bomb that seeks to destroy my credibility and my relationships

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

Matthew 5:22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”

Colossians 3:8 “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”

I Repent:

Anger, you are of the flesh, and I no longer live by the flesh but by the Spirit of God. Therefore your buttons, in all of its forms, have been deactivated and I will no longer react concerning you. 

Your way of engaging with people and this world doesn’t bring me or others closer to God but further away from Him. So Anger, when I see you, know that I will remain calm and go in the opposite direction. 

Through Jesus and the power of the Spirit, I can now respond to situations and people with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”  

Psalm 37:8 “Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.”

Ecclesiastes 10:4 “If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.”

James 1:19-20 “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”

Galatians 5:16 & 22-23b “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;” 

I Cast Off:

Anger, in the name of Jesus, I rebuke you. 

You are nothing more than gasoline waiting for the smallest of sparks to ignite your wrath and consume all that are in your path. But the fumes of your presence are being evaporated by the sanctification of my heart. 

You seek to make me into a fool that creates chaos with my harsh words, but I have turned away from you so that you no longer have the opportunity to do evil in my life. 

Proverbs 14:29 “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”

Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 22:24-25 “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.’

Proverbs 29:11 “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”

I Bless:

Anger, My God is now my example of how I will respond to all situations and people. 

For God’s character is holy and righteous full of love, mercy, and understanding. His discipline builds up instead of tearing down. As He so graciously gives to me, I will give to others. 

His peace will guard my heart and mind concerning you so that I glorify Him with all that I feel, say, or do. 

Psalm 145:8-9 “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.”

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” 

So Anger, by the time you read this blog post…know that you no longer have control of my emotions to spark a reaction that will ignite the flame of hostility. 

I now carry with me the peace and calmness of my Savior Jesus in all circumstances.

Know Better. Do Better. Live Better. Remain Calm.

Rocks before Sand!

Scripture: 

“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 1:19-20

Theme Song: 

SLOW TO ANGER | Feat. Joshua Miller | Vineyard Worship

Anger Management with Lyrics by Lecrae

References Used:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Freedom: Small Group Leader Guide produced by Church of the Highlands https://freedom.churchofthehighlands.com/curriculum 

Bible Verses About Anger: 

Psalm 4:4

Psalm 37:8 “Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.”

Psalm 145:8-9 “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.”

Proverbs 14:29 “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”

Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 22:24-25 “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.’

Proverbs 29:11 “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”

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

Ecclesiastes 10:4 “If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.”

Matthew 5:22 “ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” 

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 3:8 “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”

Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

James 1:19-20 “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”