Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry without sinning. Don’t let the sun set on your anger. Don’t provide an opportunity for the devil.”

Anger is such an ugly emotion. Even righteous anger can wear us out, depriving us of a sense of peace and keeping us up at night. Whether we are weary of the national and international news or stress in our personal lives, anger may creep into the corners of our mind.

Some traditional wisdom tells us that anger is a feeling to be avoided at all costs. As a young girl, I was always taught not to be angry or raise my voice. I considered anger to be dangerous and unpredictable, like fire, so I tried my best to leave it alone. Sometimes this unaddressed anger has turned into sorrow, jealousy, and other negative emotions.

It may surprise us to read the words of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians: “Be angry”. Let yourself experience anger. Our anger is trying to tell us something. But the challenge is to be angry without sinning. In other words, don’t be tempted to lash back out and take revenge. There is righteous anger, anger at injustices, but we must become well versed in knowing the difference between righteous anger and “providing an opportunity for the devil”. When we let anger fester overnight, it can control us and break down communities. It can steal our peace.

While anger is often the catalyst of social change, it is not a sustainable energy source. Like fire, it burns through us quickly and leaves us in ashes. Paul’s words remind us to connect to the True Source of Life, Christ, through Whom we have been granted new life.

Be angry– but don’t give the devil any ideas!