When we think of anger, we often think of it in a negative light, but sometimes anger is okay. Jesus himself got angry at those who were conducting business in the temple. And there will be times when we’re supposed to show, “righteous indignation.” But those times are usually few and far between.

Quite often, our displays of anger are unjustified and the result of something someone else did that we either didn’t agree with or just offended us. Sometimes we are truly wronged, but the Bible tells us that the way we react demonstrates who we really are.

Ephesians 4:26 tells us to be angry and sin not. Why does it say this? Because a hot temper can lead us to do things we will regret later, often hurting someone else or ourselves emotionally or physically.

Patience will always be a problem—something we’ll battle with as humans until we reach the shores of Heaven. Just when you think you’ve got your temper under control, you’ll find yourself snapping or saying something you wish you hadn’t. Don’t despair, just keep asking the Lord for grace and the strength to overcome.

We need the Lord’s help in controlling our temper and demonstrating anger in the rare times it is justified.