Watch Your Words

His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” – Job 2:9

Have you said things in anger that you regret afterwards? You’re not alone. After Job suffered a period of cataclysmic destruction and loss, his wife was angry, hurt, and probably scared. It was at this point she advised: “Curse God and die.”

When we are angry and frustrated, we are likely to say things that are very damaging to the other person. Maybe we really don’t mean what we say. Maybe we do. But words are powerful, and when we are angry, we lose control of our filter and our ability to hold our tongue. Unfortunately, it is hard to “unhear” what is said in anger.

If losing control of your words in anger has been your pattern, remember that the frustration doesn’t appear at the moment you are spewing words. It is below the surface, sometimes buried deep within. Past wounds and relational struggles have been tucked inside and never dealt with; at the point of frustration, the words and the anger come flying out.

Life is really hard at times, and the need to express pain, frustration, and rage are part of dealing with the difficulty. When you sense feelings of anger, try to acknowledge the other feelings that accompany it. For example, “I feel frustrated because the line is taking so long and there should be a better way to do this.” Or, “I can’t believe this happened, and I am so sad and unsure of what will happen next.” Both types of situations can prompt words and reactions that make things worse. Identifying underlying emotions and stressors can help you process what you’re experiencing and work to behave in a way that leads to a more productive outcome.

Journaling, praying, and talking with trusted friends and family on a regular basis can help process your feelings, relieve the build-up of emotion, and provide insight into how to deal with the challenges.

Anger is the feeling that makes your mouth work faster than your mind. – Evan Esar

A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over. – Benjamin Franklin

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me remember the power of my words. Help me to recognize when things bother me and to bring them to you and others who can help me. Help me keep short accounts so I don’t carry the burden. Thank you for helping me. Amen.

Taken from 100 Days to Freedom from Anger copyright © 2021 by Stephen Arterburn and Becky Brown. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.