Maybe we should just skip this one. What do you say? But if you’re tempted to gloss over it, it might be the very thing you need most. We have anger problems. And not always the kind we recognize. We’ve all been wounded by someone’s anger. And we’ve all wounded others with our own. Maybe what we need isn’t avoidance—but a little remedial anger rehab. Anger itself isn’t evil. It’s an emotion God designed—an important response system involving our mind, body, and soul. Ephesians 4:26 tells us to “be angry, and yet do not sin.” That’s the tension. That’s the challenge. And that’s exactly what we see in Jesus. The Gospels clearly show moments when Jesus was angry. His anger wasn’t selfish or impulsive. It was purposeful. Compassionate. Rooted in righteousness. There are times when anger is appropriate. Jesus knew that. The real question is this: Am I angry? Why am I angry? Am I angry about the right things? And ultimately— Is my anger rooted in not getting my own way? Or is it rooted in godly compassion? That difference changes everything.

Living on Purpose

Guard Your Anger

1 Corinthians 13:5; John 11:32-44

1 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Love is not irritable.”

OR

“Love is not easily angered.”

What can we learn about anger from John 11:32-44?

1. Anger can be accusational (John 11:32-35).

When has my anger led me to accuse the Lord?

2. Anger can exhaust our hope (John 11:36-40).

This anger isn’t loud; it’s silent.

It becomes resignation.

It accepts what God never intended.

3. Anger, rightly guarded, can move us to compassion (John 11:41-44).

Rightly guarded anger targets problems not people.

Four Guardrails for Anger:

Recognize that anger is not a sin (Ephesians. 4:26a).

Slow down before you speak (James 1:19).

Don’t let anger settle in (Ephesians 4:26b).

Ask better questions (Genesis 4:6).