My car clock ticked off two unacceptable minutes as I stared at the drive-thru menu. Since my commute had come in under an hour, I decided to treat myself to breakfast.

The little speaker box stayed silent though.

With a huff, I put my car into gear and approached the window uninvited. The lights were on and workers scurried about with intent, but not one of them acknowledged my presence or my desire for food and coffee. After a few more minutes—and maybe after wildly waving my arms—I mumbled and pulled away. On the short drive to the office, Anger convinced me to write a public review, contact the corporate headquarters, and post my disappointment in a quirpy Facebook post.

Like a big bully, Anger loves to boss us around. He shoves us into feeling rejected. He calls us names until we are offended. He provokes us to agree with him and to seek revenge and then some. Anger is relentless and persuasive; he begs us to respond with urgency before we can acquire more information or fully understand the whole situation. We’ve all watched, in horror, as others cannonball off the high dive into anger as if it were a swimming pool on a July day.

People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.

~Proverbs 14:29 NLT

I cornered several of my co-workers before our work day began to share my rage and some pretty ugly opinions of the chain restaurant’s customer service. One friend widened her eyes and ducked her chin. After clearing her throat twice and allowing a small giggle to escape, she informed me the restaurant, at that time, did not even serve breakfast!

You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry .

~James 1:19b NLT

All of my drama and stress that morning could have been avoided if I would have recognized Anger and kept him away from the entire situation. Then maybe my co-workers would not have had a front seat for my cannonball of foolishness.

Let’s become slower in getting angry—slower to become frustrated with a business or our pastor based on only the details we know. Maybe it’s safe to assume we always lack the information to make a true and fair opinion in the moment: key information like the menu offerings or hours of the local drive-through restaurant. Considering the Anger is from enemy of our soul, we’d do well to slow our roll into it.

What are some ways the bully of Anger provokes you?

Dear Heavenly Father, I never know the whole story, and I apologize for the times I act like I do. You alone know all. I will come to you, Lord, before anger has a chance to do its damage. Please help me to listen more and slow down my reactions when I am frustrated or challenged and to keep anger at a distance.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Genre: Nonfiction

Copyright2021: Pump the Brakes on Anger: Cynthia Mendenhall: All Rights Reserved