Earlier this week I found myself in conversations where frustration was obvious. The subject could have been any number of things, but what stood out was the tone. There was anger. There was fear. People were carrying a burden that is not hard to recognize because many of us feel it.
I know I am not immune to that same pressure. All of us live in the same climate, and it is not easy to escape its pull. The divide in our nation is sharp, and it presses into our families, our work and our community. Even when listening is hard, I believe it is one of the most important gifts we can give right now.
The Bible is clear there is a place for anger. Jesus drove out the money changers in the temple when they dishonored his Father’s house. Still, there is a difference between righteous anger and destructive anger. The Apostle Paul’s reminder is direct: “In your anger do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26, NIV). Anger can point out what is wrong, but it rarely brings healing on its own.
