When Anger Rises: Learning to Respond Like Jesus
Anger is one of those emotions we all experience but rarely know how to handle well. As we approach the holiday season and the days grow shorter, many of us find ourselves dealing with heightened emotions - anger, anxiety, and fear. These are normal human experiences, but how we respond to them makes all the difference.
What Makes Us Angry?
We've all encountered that person who claims they never get angry, but most of us struggle with frustration more than we'd like to admit. For some, anger becomes the go-to emotion before happiness or joy even has a chance to surface. The key isn't to judge ourselves for feeling angry - it's to notice when it happens and understand that it doesn't make us bad people, just human.
As Ambrose Bierce wisely noted: "Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret." Julia Cameron added another important distinction: "Anger is meant to be acted upon, it's not meant to be acted out."
A Biblical Example: The Sons of Thunder
In Luke 9:51-56, we find Jesus traveling toward Jerusalem with his disciples. Instead of taking the typical route that avoided Samaria, Jesus chose to go directly through this region where Jews were typically unwelcome. When the Samaritan villagers rejected Jesus, two of his closest disciples - James and John, whom Jesus called "the Sons of Thunder" - had an explosive reaction.
"Lord, should we call down fire from heaven and burn them up?" they asked.
These weren't random followers having a bad day. These were Jesus' inner circle - men who had witnessed the Transfiguration, seen countless miracles, and experienced Jesus' love firsthand. Yet when their beloved teacher was rejected, their immediate response was vengeance.
Understanding the Historical Context
The anger between Jews and Samaritans ran deep, rooted in centuries of conflict. After King Solomon's death in 722 B.C., the Jewish nation split. The northern kingdom became Samaria, while the southern kingdom remained Jewish. When Assyrians conquered the north, they mixed populations and religions, creating what southern Jews viewed as a corrupted faith.
Later conflicts included Samaritans being rejected when they offered to help rebuild Jerusalem, and Jews eventually destroying the Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim in 128 B.C. By Jesus' time, the hatred between these groups was generational and intense.
What Does the Bible Say About Human Anger?
Scripture is clear that human anger, left unchecked, pushes us away from God rather than drawing us closer:
James 1:19-21 reminds us to be "slow to speak and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires."
Proverbs 15:1 teaches that "A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 warns: "Don't sin by letting anger control you... For anger gives a foothold to the devil."
The selfishness often underlying our anger is described in James 4, where quarrels and fights come from "evil desires at war within you."
How Should We Respond to Anger?
The answer isn't simple because it depends on the situation. If you witness injustice and can act to stop it, anger might motivate righteous action. If you see hungry children in developing nations, anger at that injustice might drive you to support organizations providing clean water and food, or even organize a mission trip.
However, most of our anger stems from things not going our way - plans falling through, people not acting as we expect, or simply not getting what we want. This kind of anger requires us to look inward first.
God's Righteous Anger vs. Human Anger
Throughout Scripture, we see God's anger driving Him to action about 30 times. The flood in Genesis, the wilderness wandering in Numbers, and Jesus cleansing the temple all demonstrate anger leading to purposeful action. Even the book of Revelation describes God's judgment reshaping the world into the eternal paradise He originally intended.
The difference is that God's anger is always righteous - a response to evil, injustice, and covenant-breaking that results in action intended to help others, not satisfy personal desires for vengeance.
Turning Anger into Motivation
Consider Candy Lightner's story. When her 13-year-old daughter Cari was killed by a drunk driver in 1980, Candy was overwhelmed with anger and helplessness. The driver had four previous drunk driving convictions and would likely serve little jail time.
Instead of letting anger consume her, Candy channeled it into action. Four days after her daughter's death, she founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in her home. Though she wasn't even registered to vote before this tragedy, she visited the governor's office daily until he launched a statewide commission on drunk driving.
By 1985, MADD had 320 chapters and 600,000 volunteers nationwide. All 50 states had tightened drunk driving laws, and by their 20th anniversary, alcohol-related fatalities had dropped by 40%. This is anger transformed into righteous action.
Four Questions to Process Anger
When you feel anger rising, stop and ask yourself:
What am I feeling right now? Notice the physical sensations - heat, tension, sweating - and acknowledge the emotion without judgment.
Why am I feeling this way? Invite the Holy Spirit into this conversation. What's causing this anger?
What may need to be healed inside me? Anger often indicates areas where we need growth or healing.
God, what do you want me to do with this anger? Instead of acting on our impulses for revenge or venting, ask God how He wants to use this emotion.
The Importance of Community
Processing anger is difficult to do alone. Having trusted friends who can help you work through these emotions before you act on them is invaluable. This is why authentic community matters - places where you can be honest about your struggles without judgment.
Jesus didn't condemn James and John for their anger; He corrected them and pointed them toward a healthier response. We need people in our lives who can do the same for us.
Life Application
This week, when you feel anger rising within you, resist the urge to immediately react or vent. Instead, take a moment to examine your heart. Ask yourself the four processing questions, and invite God into the conversation. Remember that anger itself isn't sin - it's what we do with it that matters.
Consider finding a trusted friend or community where you can process difficult emotions authentically. Look for opportunities to channel any righteous anger you feel into action that helps others rather than satisfies your own desire for revenge.
Questions for Reflection:
What situations or circumstances most commonly trigger anger in your life?
How might God want to use your anger to motivate you toward positive action in your community?
Who in your life can you trust to help you process difficult emotions before you act on them?
What areas of your heart might need healing that anger is revealing to you?
