Anger Is a Gauge

When anger flares at home, it’s tempting to treat the anger as the whole problem, or to blame whoever set it off. But anger is often more like a gauge on a dashboard. It tells you something is going on underneath.

James asks the question directly: “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” Our fights often come from something we want badly, or something we’re afraid to lose.

So when you feel the heat rise, stop and ask: what am I protecting right now? My comfort? My pride? My plans? What am I not trusting God with?

Paul doesn’t say anger is always wrong. He says, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” Read the gauge, deal with what’s under it, and don’t let it sit overnight.