A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
Proverbs 15:18 ESV
Years ago, I was preparing breakfast for my family. I started the process of peeling back the paper on a can of biscuits, then placed it on the counter while I left the room to tend to something else with one of the kids.
Suddenly I heard a terrible explosion!
It sounded like a gunshot. My entire family raced to the kitchen. Imagine our shock to discover biscuits now covered the entire room. There were biscuits on the wall, biscuits on the counter, and biscuits on the floor.
I couldn’t figure out how it had happened. And then I realized that I’d started the process of releasing the pressure by pulling off the outer layer around the can before leaving the room. My actions had actually caused this disaster, though not on purpose.
None of us dared move until we were sure the explosion had fully ended. Then the cleanup began. (Have you ever tried to clean up sticky uncooked biscuits? They make quite the mess!)
Oh, My!
I got to thinking about how my temper is a bit like that can of biscuits. Sometimes I let life’s frustrations build up, like the pressure inside of that biscuit can. I tuck away my anger as long as I can. Then something happens—often outside of my control—and the proverbial biscuits come shooting out of the can. I make a tremendous amount of noise, and mess up everything in sight with my angry outburst. Then I leave a shocked audience to clean up after me.
How do we stop anger?
It must be diffused at its root. We have to make a conscious effort not to let the pressure build to the danger point. Otherwise, those biscuits are going to mess up a perfectly lovely room. And possibly ruin a few relationships.
Perhaps this is one reason the Bible says we shouldn’t go to bed angry. If we let things fester overnight, they’re sure to build over time. Release the pressure a little at a time by giving those situations to God before they get out of hand. Your family and friends will thank you, if you do.
Challenging Thought: What are some practical ways you can address anger or frustration?
Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!
