If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
or if you have been devising evil,
put your hand on your mouth.
For pressing milk produces curds,
pressing the nose produces blood,
and pressing anger produces strife. (Proverbs 30:32-33)
I've been increasingly noticing how prevalent - and how toxic - anger is. Not that anger is always wrong. Jesus was filled with a righteous anger when zeal for the Lord's house consumed Him (John 2). Paul counsels that in our anger we must not sin (Ephesians 4:26). Proverbs 30, however speaks of the toxic, destructive, sinful form.
Anger doesn't always look like anger - sometimes it looks like depression, when anger is focussed in on yourself.
Denying and ignoring anger is not the right response. That often results in other a hotter fire, or a slower burn, but either way the destructive flames are still there.
I know I could use some training in responding to anger - both my own and the anger of others. What tips and tools do you have for responding in a godly way to anger?
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