Why Talk About Anger?
We’ve all felt anger—sometimes, it is found in small, irritating moments that continue to annoy us. Sometimes, in ways that seem to take over our whole spirit, like we can’t get it out of our mind.
Anger is a powerful emotion that can rise quickly, as if we have no control over that intense feeling, clouding our judgment and leading us to say or do things we regret later.
Many Christians, myself included, ask, “Why do I get so angry?” We also want to know, “Is it wrong to feel this way at all?” and “How do I stop getting angry?” The cool part is that the Bible provides both clarity and comfort in dealing with anger.
As we walk through the question about “what does the bible say about anger?” You’ll learn that God doesn’t ignore anger. In fact, He speaks directly to it, its causes, its consequences, and most importantly, its cure. Yes, that’s correct! There is a way to overcome anger.
Is Anger Always a Sin?
You need to know right up front that feeling angry isn’t automatically sinful.
In Ephesians 4 26-27 (NIV), Paul instructs us, “In your anger do not sin.” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
By holding on to anger and negative emotions, we only hurt ourselves. As you toss and turn, unable to sleep over whatever upset you, odds are the person or situation you’re directing all of that energy towards couldn’t care less how you feel.
Paul’s message to the Ephesians tells us two essential things about sin:
1. Anger itself can exist without sin by resolving it before the sun goes down.
2. It’s dangerous if left unchecked, allowing Satan to take control.
One way to look at anger is to imagine a warning light on your dashboard—you know it’s telling you something is happening within your vehicle. If we ignore that light or smash the dashboard in frustration, we end up with a much bigger issue, and the costs of putting off repairs could skyrocket.
Like the warning light on a dashboard, anger signals that something deeper is happening within us. Suppose we ignore it or let it build. The result is that it can quickly spin out of control, potentially causing lasting damage to relationships. In the past, I’ve experienced emotional turmoil when anger was allowed to build to the point of total uncontrolled mental chaos. The only person hurt by that anger was me.
Fortunately, my anger did not harm my personal relationships. Most times, when anger swelled within me, I bottled it up and didn’t let it boil over. In doing this, I did myself no favors, and it caused me to withdraw until the anger dissipated or I buried it deep; neither was a healthy way to deal with my anger issues.
In my journey through the Bible, I learned that we must pause, seek God’s help, and address what’s truly fueling our anger, “for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20, ESV). Most often, anger is used to manipulate and control people so that we get our way and make ourselves feel good.
BibleRef explains our purpose: “Part of our purpose as believers is to be used by God to help contribute to His righteousness, to help accomplish His purpose in the world. We have a glorious, eternal purpose, far greater than what we can achieve through anger or sin.”
Righteous Anger vs. Sinful Anger
There’s a difference between the kind of anger that reflects God’s heart and the kind that flows from our flesh. It’s important to note, not all anger is sinful but all anger is dangerous if we don’t handle it with wisdom and humility as Jesus instructs us.
I’ve learned the hard way that even justifiable anger can take a turn for the worse when I let it sit too long or speak too quickly without considering potential outcomes. That’s why it’s so important to bring our angry thoughts to God as soon as the negative emotion begins to emerge, before it has a chance to take root in the wrong direction.
Righteous anger is rooted in love for what is right, while Sinful anger, on the other hand, is self-centered. The key difference? righteous anger wants to fix what’s broken, sinful anger intends to punish.
I’ll dive a little deeper in an upcoming post on righteous anger versus sinful anger.
God’s View of Human Anger
The Bible warns us about the danger of letting quick-tempered reactions take over. When we allow our emotions to control us, we often speak or act in ways that we wish we could take back. God invites us to pause before we act, lean on His Spirit for guidance, and respond in a way that reflects His love and wisdom.
As Ecclesiastes reminds us, “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools”(Ecclesiastes 7:9 NIV). And James encourages us, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19–20 NIV).
A great example of this truth is found in the life of Moses. When the Israelites moaned and complained about the lack of water in the wilderness, God told Moses to speak to the rock, but in his frustration, Moses struck it twice instead (Numbers 20:7 12). His quick-tempered reaction dishonored God and cost him the blessing of entering the Promised Land.
Moses’ story reminds us that even godly people can let anger lead them astray, and that’s why we need to continually seek God’s help in keeping our hearts calm and our actions obedient.
The Bible overflows with God’s wisdom for living our lives, and Proverbs is especially loaded with guidance on controlling our emotions. When it comes to anger, we’re reminded:
(Proverbs 29:11 ESV)“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”
(Proverbs 14:29 ESV)“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”
God isn’t just interested in our actions; He cares about the condition of our hearts. He sees the rage stirring within us long before it boils over. When we allow anger to take root and dominate our thoughts, words, and relationships, it’s often a sign that something deeper is going on. When we notice the fury welling up within, that’s when we need to invite God into our heart; not just to help us manage our anger, but to heal what’s fueling it.
God is always focused on the state of our inner being, not just our behavior. Consider 1 Samuel 16:7 – “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
God Is Slow to Anger—We’re Called to Be Like Him
Proverbs reminds us that patience isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom and strength in action. It’s taken me many years to learn to be patient, bite my tongue, and ask the Holy Spirit for the strength to remain calm. It certainly is not easy, but it is the path to a more peaceful life.
One of the most repeated descriptions of God in the Bible is this:“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”(Psalm 145:8 ESV)
This is a wonderful verse and it’s a goal for how we are to live our lives. God’s patience toward us becomes the model for how we treat others. When we remember how often He shows us grace, it becomes harder to justify holding grudges or letting our tempers flare. Choosing patience over anger not only reflects His character but also brings peace into our relationships and our own hearts.
The Good News: You’re Not Stuck
I want you to know that anger doesn’t have to have the final say in your life. I’ve been there—feeling overwhelmed, watching anger damage relationships I care about, and wrestling with the shame it leaves behind. But take heart—there is real hope.
The very same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work inside you (Romans 8:11). “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”(NIV) Overcoming anger isn’t about gritting your teeth and trying harder; it’s about inviting the Holy Spirit to guide you, renewing your mind with God’s promises, and trusting Him to heal the parts of your heart you can’t fix alone.
Reflect and Respond
Before we move into practical steps, take a moment to reflect:
- When was the last time you felt angry?
- What triggered it?
- Was your response righteous or sinful?
- What does that moment reveal about your heart?
Prayer to Close
“Father, thank You for being slow to anger with me. I confess that my own anger so often comes from pride, fear, or hurt. Teach me to respond like Jesus—with wisdom, love, and peace. Soften my heart, Lord, and help me walk in the Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Next Up:
“Understanding the Heart Behind Anger” – We’ll dig into where anger really comes from and why it’s more spiritual than you might think.
Citations
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”