Controlling Your Temper

Steve Arterburn

My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight. James 1:19-20 NLT

The frustrations of everyday living can sometimes get the better of us, and we allow minor disappointments to cause us major problems. When we allow ourselves to become overly irritated by the inevitable ups and downs of life, we may become overstressed, overheated, overanxious, and just plain angry.

Anger often leads to impulsivity; impulsivity often leads to poor decision-making; and poor decision-making tends to tear down character. So, if you’d like to increase your storehouse of wisdom while, at the same time, strengthening your character, you should learn to control your temper before it controls you.

When you allow yourself to become angry, you are certain to defeat at least one person: yourself. When you allow the minor frustrations of everyday life to hijack your emotions, you do harm to yourself and to your loved ones. So today and every day, guard yourself against the kind of angry thinking that inevitably takes a toll on your emotions and your relationships.

As the old saying goes, ‘Anger usually improves nothing but the arch of a cat’s back.’ So don’t allow feelings of anger or frustration to rule your life, or, for that matter, your day’your life is simply too short for that, and you deserve much better treatment than that . . . from yourself.

Anger is the noise of the soul; the unseen irritant of the heart; the relentless invader of silence. Max Lucado

Anger unresolved will only bring you woe. Kay Arthur

Bitterness and anger, usually over trivial things, make havoc of homes, churches, and friendships. Warren Wiersbe

A man in a passion rides a horse that runs away with him. Thomas Fuller

Character builder
If you think you’re about to explode in anger, don’t! Instead of striking back at someone, it’s usually better to slow down, catch your breath, consider your options, and walk away if you must. Striking out in anger can lead to big problems. So it’s better to walk away’and keep walking’than to blurt out angry words that can’t be un-blurted.