Thursday, January 15, 2015

Thursday Thought -- January 15, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)

Every one of us has been and will be again involved in a situation in which someone else gets angry with us. Anger is a natural part of life and we all face it over and over. How we respond when someone gets angry with us will have a significant impact on the situation.

If we return anger with anger the situation will escalate. The other person’s anger will grow more intense and a spiral effect will be started and often ends with damage to the relationship, sometimes great damage.

The Lord gave Solomon the key to putting an end to the spiral effect and moving toward anger control: “a gentle answer turns away wrath.” When we respond to the anger expressed toward us in a calm and gentle manner, the other person will have a better opportunity to get control of his own anger and we can begin to work toward resolution of the problem.

A gentle answer doesn’t guarantee the other person’s anger will be brought under control. Some people are out of control as soon as they get angry and nothing you do can effect that. However, the general principle is true that a gentle answer can help in a situation in which anger has been stirred up.

This principle can help in marriages, in workplace relationships, between friends, even with strangers. It’s a hard principle to follow because the anger in someone else often stirs up our own anger. Ask God to help you keep control of your anger, even when those around you don’t have control of theirs. Put this principle to the test and see how God’s Word provides practical advice for life that really helps.

His, by Grace,


Steve

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