Find biblical hope and practical help in these 9 incredible Bible verses to help you deal with anger in a godly way.
Are you a Christian mom struggling to control anger?
So many moms struggle with hard emotions. Kids can be really frustrating, and our impatience and anger can sometimes get the best of us.
Thankfully, God has a lot to say in the Bible about emotions like anger!
Your anger does not surprise him. He can handle it – and, He can change it. Your spiritual growth with Jesus is your best source of peace, joy, and wisdom.
So let’s open God’s Word together to find the best Bible verses to control anger.
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Bible verses to help you deal with anger: Start in the Proverbs
No one wants to be the angry mom. And the Proverbs reminds us of why! Take a look at a few popular Proverbs about anger:
(#1) An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. (Proverbs 29:22)
Ouch! Anger can be such a painful emotion. Instead of growing more like Christ, it leads us into more sins. Oh Lord, have mercy on us.
(#2) A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)
I love that this Bible verse gives us a solution to the problem of anger. It might not be easy, but we recognize this wisdom: avoid the harsh words, and try to give gentle answers.
RELATED: Change anger in your home with my free Conflict Resolution Cheat Sheet!
(#3) A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. (Proverbs 15:18)
We see here the impact that our anger has on our entire family. As you learn to control your temper more and more, you will stay patient and be able to calm conflict instead of escalating it.
Are you growing closer to the Lord?
I love reading the Proverbs every day. But it’s only one book in a big Bible! There is a lot to learn about God and to experience with Him. And the more that you grow closer to Jesus, the more He will change you by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Your intimacy with Jesus will help you better manage your anger.
This isn’t like a magic wand. And it isn’t a checklist, that a daily Bible reading guarantees the result you want.
It is spiritual growth. Jesus is our source of peace beyond human understanding. So, the more you spend time with him and seek to follow him, the more you will become like Him.
As we jump into more Bible verses to control anger, start working on a habit of your own daily Bible reading, and see how God delights to work in your life. Use my FREE 45-day Bible and Prayer guide to get started today!
(#4) Ephesians 4:26-27
“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. (Ephesians 4:26-27)
We need to take our sin seriously.
Anger itself is not a sin. But we often justify inappropriate anger and impatience, when that is not actually holy. And it certainly doesn’t make us happy or build up healthy relationships!
When you notice your temper rising, hit the stop button right away. Don’t let the anger rise, where it will quickly become sin and hurt your relationships. Bite your tongue and work to restore peace in the relationship. My free Conflict Resolution Cheat Sheet may help.
RELATED: 10 Reasons Why Moms Struggle With Out Of Control Emotions
(#5) Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30)
Anger is exhausting. Feeling impatient wears me out – and I’m sure that you are tired of those emotions too!
Despite our best efforts, we will never find true peace outside of closeness with Jesus. We need the rest that He offers! He is not offering you a gigantic list of things to do. He is offering you peace, hope, and help.
(#6) Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
I have been a mental health counselor for over 10 years now. And almost everyone who walks into the counseling room needs help with this Bible verse!
We all need the Lord’s help to control our thought life.
Ultimately, you cannot make yourself feel anything – happy, sad, angry. What you can control is what you think about… and THAT will often determine your emotions.
RELATED: The Best Exercises To Stop Negative Thinking In Its Tracks
Think about things that are good, true, and beautiful (Philippians 4:8). Focus on gratitude and the message of Christ (Colossians 3:16). Invite Jesus to transform your thinking, and offer your whole self to God as an act of worship.
(#7) James 1:19-20
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: 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)
This verse reinforces Ephesians 4 – that the emotion of anger is not necessarily a sin. But I love that this verse forces us to slow down and re-evaluate what is it that makes us angry?
The more we listen and seek to understand others, the less we are consumed by our own thoughts and emotions. It slows us down. It focuses us on others, instead of ourselves. (My FREE Conflict Resolution Cheat Sheet can help you with with this Bible verse.)
As you seek to let Scripture change your anger, here are a few things you may want to consider
- When you get angry, have you really listened and sought to understood the other person?
- Are you thinking carefully before speaking?
- Do you notice your anger building, so that you can take a pause and go cool down, to avoid acting out in anger?
(#8) Philippians 4:4-9
There is so much in this passage of Scripture – every verse can be highlighted as one of the best Bible verses to control anger! It’s a little long to quote it all, so let’s look at 4 main points from these Bible verses, to help us control our anger.
- You can choose to rejoice in the Lord and be gentle with people. (verses 4-5)
- Big emotions can be handled with prayer, petition, thanksgiving, and asking God for what you need. And His promise is amazing: “…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (v. 6-7)
- What you think about will directly influence your emotions and self-control. “…if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.” (v. 8) If you’re stuck, think about Jesus.
- The people you spend time with have a big influence on how you feel, and how you manage those feelings. Are they angry people? How will they help you control your own anger? (v. 9)
RELATED: 13 Secret Weapons For How To Stop Negative Overthinking
(#9) 2 Corinthians 12:9
But he [God] said to me [Paul], “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Struggling with anger can feel defeating and overwhelming. Isn’t it amazing, then, that God makes his power and glory all the more perfect in our weakness?!
In your impatience, frustration, anxiety, and anger… accept your weakness, pray for God’s help, and trust that Christ’s power will shine through in your life.
Biblical hope in dealing with anger
I’ve been a mental health counselor for over 10 years, and I’ve seen how painful anger can be for people. It can destroy family relationships. It can trigger depression, violence, and so many more problems.
And the Bible offers hope.
Throughout the pages of Scripture, you’ll see that God not only wants to have a relationship with you – He also wants to offer forgiveness for your sins and help for your struggles. Through the Holy Spirit, change is possible!
Building your own habit of Bible reading and prayer will be a big help in dealing with anger. Grab my FREE 45-day Bible and Prayer Guide to get started.
But, if you want to dive straight into Scripture for a deeper look at managing hard emotions like impatience and anger, you’ll want my 40-Day Devotional On Emotional Control: Keep Your Cool, Mama!
Listen to Episode #47
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