Anger is an emotional response that is often accompanied by hostility or displeasure or annoyance, and it arises as a result of threat, hurt or frustration. It is a natural human emotion that has the ability to destroy people, shatter homes and cause serious havoc, if not controlled. In our day-to-day activities, it is very easily to get hurt, feel threatened and get frustrated because of the numerous situations that we encounter. However, as Christians, it is very essential we remember who we are in Christ, and also remember the precepts that Christ laid down for us to follow. And as such, our response to hurt and annoyance should always be in check. We are meant to maintain peace and calmness even when dealing with anger. How we handle this emotion have notable impact in our spiritual well-being and as well as our mental and societal well-being.
The Bible provides us with profound wisdom on how to manage anger. God recognizes anger as a human emotions, and at such it is not illegal nor ungodly for us to get angry, it is normal. But what matters the most is how we handle this emotion. When anger is left unchecked and unaddressed, it can lead to several other kinds of emotions, like bitterness, grudges and wrath. When anger arises, it becomes easier to speak words without thinking, and those spoken words can cut deep into the hearts and cause pains that may be hard to heal. This is why as followers of Christ, we must always be in charge of our emotions and our words must be seasoned with grace and wisdom, even when we are at our angry mood.
Anger is like a seed once planted into the heart, it can grow deep roots and also develop branches that will bear other emotions that have the capability to destroy the soul, and also mar our relationship with God and our fellow human. God warns us against letting anger dwell in us because of its potency of destruction. Controlling anger can be a difficult task, especially when we are faced with threat, hurt or frustration. However, this is the reason why God is ever present help. whenever we are faced with this strong emotion, all we should do is to first ask the Holy Spirit for help before addressing that issue. This practical step will help advert any damage that it was meant to cause. Join us in this article as we explore some powerful Bible verses that teaches us on how to control anger;
SEE ALSO: 40 Important Bible Verses about Quarreling
What Does The Bible Say About Being Slow To Anger?
The Bible warns us about anger and also to stay far from angry people, because anger is one destructive emotion that has high propensity to cause irreversible havoc. It could be physical, emotional, spiritual, or societal havoc. Although, the Bible does not invalidate anger, however God cautions us not to commit sin when we are angry. Encouraging us as Christ followers to manage and communicate our anger in an amicable manner. We should strive to always keep our angry emotion under subject and never to allow it spread and take over our souls.
Ephesians 4:26 “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry”. This scripture admonishes us not to sin in our angry state, we should not allow the anger in our hearts to linger. Whatever situation that caused you to be angry should be addressed peacefully.
Psalm 37:8 “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil”. The Bible underscores the destructive power of anger, encouraging us to refrain from it because it only leads to evil. Anger, when left untreated, it resolves to many other sins that will corrupt our souls and keep us away from God.
Proverbs 17:14 “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out”. Bible encourages us here to avoid matters or situations that will lead us to anger. It is better we avoid quarrel than to reap the consequences that comes with aggressively displaying anger. Below are more insightful Bible verses that give lessons about anger management;
43 Powerful Slow to Anger Bible Verses
- Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. – Proverbs 14:29
- My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. – James 1:19
- A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. – Proverbs 15:18
- Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. – Ecclesiastes 7:9
- Better a patient person than a warrior, those with self-control than those who take a city. – Proverbs 16:32
- A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. – Proverbs 19:11
- But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. – Colossians 3:8
- In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. – Ephesians 4:26
- Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered. – Proverbs 22:24-25
- Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. – Psalm 37:8
- Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. – Proverbs 10:12
- It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. – 1 Corinthians 13:5
- Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. – Proverbs 29:11
- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. – Galatians 5:22-23
- Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. – Proverbs 17:14
- Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. – Philippians 4:4-5
- Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. – Romans 12:19
- Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. – Proverbs 25:28
- Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. – 1 Peter 3:9
- Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it. – Proverbs 1:19
- But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself. – Proverbs 6:32
- But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. – Matthew 5:22
- For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife. – Proverbs 30:33
- Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. – Colossians 3:21
- The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. – Proverbs 17:27
- For my name’s sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to cut you off. – Isaiah 48:9
- Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. – Proverbs 12:16
- A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again. – Proverbs 19:19
- 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
- The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. – Psalm 145:8
- The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. – Nahum 1:3
- And rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. – Joel 2:13
- A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression. – Proverbs 29:22
- A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. – Proverbs 14:17
- God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. – Psalm 7:11
- 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. – Ephesians 4:29
- Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32
- Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. – Ephesians 6:4
- Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:31-32
- What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. – James 4:1-2
- Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. – Proverbs 29:20
- Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. – Matthew 5:5
- Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. – Psalm 4:4
