Be Slow To Anger

There are times when we have a disagreement with someone, we feel so strongly about being right and we are so sure we are not going to ever hang around with them again. We feel whatever the situation, we are done with them. We are going to disassociate ourselves from them and move on. However, as time passes, our feelings aren’t quite as strong and we may forgive them. We may begin talking to them again. We may restore that relationship again and find out that we really missed their companionship.

Matthew 5:21-22 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment. But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.”

We need to be able to close the gap between the disagreement and the communication. It shouldn’t be years, months or even days before we address the issue and bring it out in the open. When we go ahead and confront the situation we can be sure we are doing what God wants us to do. We can be sure we are not wasting any time in the relationship with bitterness or worry. We can be sure we are setting the example that Jesus would set if he we in that situation.

When situations happen where one or more people are hurt or angry in a relationship, we need to open up. We need to get our feelings out and tell our side of the story to them so they understand. We need to allow them to talk and tell what they saw was going on as well. We need to communicate and help each other understand what caused the situation and see what can be done to make the relationship better.

The first step to opening up is to go to God. He alone is the answer to getting back on the right foot with the other person. He knows what is in their hearts and how much time will be needed for the healing to happen. God will give us answers through prayer, through His word, through meditation and through talking with other trusted people about the situation, if we need to.

The second step is to wait. The wait shouldn’t be that long before the opportunity appears for us to take action. God will give us the right time and place to bring the issues to surface. While we are waiting, we should continue to pray. We should continue to keep the issues confidential and not let rumors begin about the conflict or the parties involved.

The next step is to open up with the others involved. When we open up with them, we need to bring up things in a positive light about how we felt and what we saw happen. We need to be ready to forgive and forget. We need to discuss what we can all learn from the situation and what we need to do to make things right.

Finally, we need to follow through and continue the relationship forgetting and forgiving so God can work through us and the others involved. We need to become stronger in our relationship with them staying open with communication, keeping up with the relationship and discussing God more in our lives with them.

When we put God in the midst of relationships which have gone bad, God will help us mend them but we have to be willing to trust in Him, wait for His sign, open up and swallow our pride and follow through to bring that relationship back to where God wants it to be. We can become better examples to others when we allow God to work through us, work through our issues with them and allow us to make a difference.

James 1:19-21 “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.”