Love

And do everything with love. – 1 Corinthians 16:14

It seems strange to talk about love and anger in the same sentence. However, many people who are in a relationship and love each other also experience anger with each other. Anger is passionate, and when a relationship is at an impasse on an issue, people often have strong reactions. Sadly, anger has destroyed love relationships.

People develop patterns in their relationships. This doesn’t apply strictly to romantic relationships but also parent/child, employee/boss, and many other types of relationships. If a relationship has tension and results in anger, that anger can create a dynamic that continues throughout the life of the relationship. People keep score on who said what, and they try to retaliate to set the record straight. The relationship suffers as this habit eventually tears the connection apart.

The things that create anger and tension in relationships need to be discussed and resolved if possible. If resolution can’t be found, the goal is to disagree respectfully. If the emotional temperature is too hot, give each other space and time before attempting to resolve the issue. Cover the situation in prayer and choose to do everything with love. What does that look like? It means not having to have the last word, not being easily offended, not having to settle the score, and many other loving responses.

Love does not mean ignoring problems but seeking to make things right instead of attacking the person. Working toward a solution can take significant effort and is more difficult than giving in to anger. A loving response requires patience, which is not always easy to have in the middle of a challenging situation. If love is the goal, finding the best way to deal with the things that create anger will change everything.

The will of God for your life is simply that you submit yourself to him each day and say, “Father, your will for today is mine. You lead me today and I will follow.” – Kay Arthur

No form of vice, not worldliness, not greed of gold, not drunkenness itself, does more to un-Christianize society than evil temper. – Henry Drummond

When you resort to shouting in conflict, you are reacting in the flesh. You have lost control of the only person you can control: yourself. – Neil T. Anderson

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord Jesus, you are the greatest example of love. Help me to be more like you in every relationship and every response. I pray for discernment and wisdom when a conflict arises that I may reflect you. 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.