Freedom for Angry Moms: 5 Days of Biblical Encouragementნიმუში

slow to anger

Anger is in a hurry, demanding immediate attention. The wise mom doesn’t get pushed around by it. She stands as a sentinel, guarding against unrighteous urgency to gather her wits about her and make way for calm. Being slow to anger puts us on the fast track to becoming the godly moms we long to be.

It’s not that we never have a temper. I found great freedom and release from guilt when I understood the difference between righteous anger and unrighteous anger. When my child sins, I can feel the pain of it without personalizing it. Their sin is not an offense against me. It’s an offense against God, and that should grieve me on behalf of Him, but it does not have to wound my heart or make me a victim. Jesus paid the price for their sin and for mine, and so my righteous anger is directed at our mutual enemy: Satan. He would have us misdirect it toward our child and spew and stew— but today, he will be disappointed!

Instead, we make room for empathy in our hearts and see our children with compassion. We can retrain our minds to think, “How sad that sin is having its way with him!” or “What a struggle she must endure in her immaturity and youthful fragility, unable to cope with the temptations she faces!” We are moms ready to use the Word of God delicately to lance hardened hearts, not as a dagger to wound. Our words are sweet with godly and gentle corrections. Our anger draws us closer to sanctification instead of being used against us as a temptation to sin. We don’t yell or narrow our eyes in anger. Nor do we say things we’d later regret. What a paradox! Our righteous anger becomes an opportunity for good and one more blessing of stewardship in the high honor of being a mother. Greater than a warrior, indeed. Untriggered and unapologetic—yes, unhurried and unharried—strong in self-control and sanctified in the process.

Lord, it’s so easy to take my child’s sin or immaturity personally. I know that they don’t always have the spiritual maturity to manage their emotions well. Help me model it for them because I love them. I long for them to grow spiritually and to be an example to them. Forgive me for being quick to anger. Help me have compassion on my child when they are rebellious or disobedient. I want to be like that warrior, protecting the walls of my child’s heart, not breaking them down with my own hurtful daggers. Thank You, Lord, for empowering me with the ability to direct my anger toward our real enemy and to be the self-controlled mom I long to be. In Jesus’ name, amen.

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

Even grown women struggle to learn a lesson if we are in a state of high emotion. It’s unreasonable for us to think our immature child can either. The next time you are triggered, take a “holy pause” and get your emotions under control. Not everything has to be dealt with right away. Stop. Breathe. Challenge your urgency, and then make a calm and kind choice to speak the truth in love. Do so at a later time when both parent and child are more receptive.