Most of us desire to walk in harmony with others, but in this world conflict cannot totally be avoided! It is so easy to get pulled into conflict, even when our heart’s desire is to be people of peace! What’s really inside our hearts is going to be forced out through our mouths in times of conflict, stress, or anxiety. At some point, we will all find ourselves in a difficult place where we must choose what to do with our angry tongues. Proverbs 10 states there are times we must bite our tongues to be wise. Even though anger is a normal human emotion, if held onto, it can easily turn into something that will make us fall short, and pull us into an undesirable pit. To be emotionally, and spiritually healthy we must learn to take it to the Lord, talk to Him about it, feel it, and let go of it. If we get pulled into contention without working out the anger in our hearts, we will put that anger on others or ourselves and stir up more negative consequences and strife. Jesus wants us to put our anger on Him, so the Holy Spirit can fill our hearts with the power of His loving, healing touch! He longs to help us work out our inner conflicts and set us free from having a controlling, angry tongue that seeks power through controlling others. It is necessary that we first make peace in our own hearts, before we can be slow to anger, and able to answer others in wisdom with a gentle tongue. In our chaotic world it is easy to get pulled into contention with a hot-tempered person, even when our heart’s desire is to walk in peace! When conflict arises, God does not call us to be a doormat, but by grace, He calls and enables us to speak the truth without getting pulled into the volatile, unstable, and impulsive power of wrath and anger. It is God’s desire to use our words and lives to bring His way of peace to a world that is filled with conflict.
A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger appeases contention” (Proverbs 15:1, 18)amp.
Respond gently when you are confronted and you’ll defuse the rage of another. Responding with sharp, cutting words will only make it worse .Don’t you know that being angry can ruin the testimony of even the wisest of men? A touchy, hot-tempered man picks a fight, but the calm, patient man knows how to silence strife. Proverbs 15: 1, 18 tPt.
