09/28/2025 Rethinking Anger
5 Day Devotional
Day 1: Holy Anger: Understanding the Difference
Devotional
Anger is a complex emotion. We often think of it as negative, something to suppress or avoid. But Scripture reveals a more nuanced truth: anger itself isn't sin, but how we handle it can lead us into sin.
Jesus himself displayed anger multiple times in the gospels. He overturned tables in the temple, confronted religious hypocrisy, and even at Lazarus's tomb, he wasn't just sad—he was angry. But His anger was fundamentally different from ours.
Human anger typically destroys. It damages relationships, hurts others, and corrodes our own souls. But Jesus' anger was holy and restorative. He didn't lash out at people in grief; He directed His anger at death itself, at the brokenness of our world, at the forces that cause human suffering.
The distinction is crucial. When we're angry, we often target people—our spouse, children, coworkers, or those with different beliefs. Jesus teaches us to redirect our anger toward the true enemies: not flesh and blood, but the spiritual forces of darkness, the systems of injustice, the reality of sin and death.
Today, consider how you express anger. Does it tear down or build up? Does it target people or the darkness that harms them? Ask God to transform your anger into something that reflects His heart—anger that fights for restoration rather than causing further damage.
Bible Verse
"In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." - Ephesians 4:26
Reflection Question
What situations trigger your anger, and how might Jesus want to redirect that emotional energy toward fighting the true enemies of God's kingdom?
Quote
"Anger itself is not sin, is it? Anger in and of itself is not sin, right? Ephesians 4, right? Verse 26. In your anger, do not sin. So it's saying, anger is not sin, but in your anger, you absolutely can slip into sin."
Prayer
Lord, thank you for showing me that anger itself isn't wrong—it's how I use it. Help me distinguish between destructive human anger and righteous indignation. Transform my anger into a force that fights against darkness rather than against people. Amen.
Day 2: When Jesus Got Angry
Devotional
At Lazarus's tomb, we see a side of Jesus that might surprise us. John 11 doesn't just show Jesus weeping—it reveals Him angry. The Greek word used (embrimaomai) describes someone snorting with anger or indignation. Jesus wasn't just sad; He was furious.
But what exactly angered Jesus? Not the grieving sisters or the mourners—but death itself. He raged against the enemy that had stolen His friend, that caused such pain to those He loved. Jesus was angry at why they had to mourn in the first place.
This reveals something profound about God's heart. When we suffer, when we grieve, God doesn't merely observe our pain with detached sympathy. He enters into it. He feels it. And more than that—He's outraged by it.
Imagine what this means when you face your darkest moments. The God of the universe isn't distant or unconcerned. He burns with holy anger at what has hurt you. He rages against the forces that have caused your pain. And unlike our human anger that often accomplishes nothing, His anger erupts into action—into resurrection power.
Today, whatever pain you're experiencing, remember that Jesus doesn't just offer comfort. He offers righteous indignation on your behalf. He's not passive about your suffering. He's actively opposed to it, and He's working to bring restoration and healing.
Bible Verse
"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled." - John 11:33
Reflection Question
How does it change your perspective on suffering to know that Jesus doesn't just sympathize with your pain but is actually angry at what has hurt you?
Quote
"When you face grief or loss or despair, you need more from a God than just pity. You need a Savior who enters into your pain and feels it with you and grieves with you."
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for not being indifferent to my pain. Thank you for being a God who enters into my suffering and rages against what hurts me. Help me to trust that your righteous anger will ultimately bring resurrection in the broken areas of my life. Amen.
Day 3: Identifying the True Enemy
Devotional
One of our greatest mistakes is misidentifying our enemies. When we're hurt, frustrated, or angry, we naturally direct those feelings toward people—our spouse who disappointed us, the coworker who undermined us, the neighbor whose political views infuriate us.
But Jesus consistently redirects our focus. In Mark 3, when religious leaders criticized Him for healing on the Sabbath, Jesus responded with anger—not at them personally, but at the hardness of heart that prevented them from seeing God's work.
The Bible reminds us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood." The true enemies are not people but the spiritual forces that blind, divide, and destroy. Death, addiction, abuse, injustice, hatred—these are what deserve our righteous anger.
When we fight the wrong enemies, we waste our energy and often cause more damage. We tear down relationships instead of building them up. We contribute to division rather than healing.
Jesus calls us to a different way. He invites us to join Him in directing our anger toward the darkness itself, not toward those caught in it. This shift in perspective changes everything—how we pray, how we respond to conflict, how we engage with those who oppose us.
Today, consider whether you've been fighting the wrong enemy. Ask God to help you see people as He sees them, and to direct your passion against the true forces of darkness.
Bible Verse
"Looking around at them in anger and deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, Jesus said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored." - Mark 3:5
Reflection Question
In what situations have you been treating people as enemies when the real battle is against spiritual forces of darkness?
Quote
"The enemy is not your spouse. Your enemy is not your child. It's not your neighbor. It's not your boss. It's not that people on the other side of your political beliefs, even our struggle is not against flesh and blood."
Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I've directed my anger at people rather than the darkness that affects us all. Help me to see others through your eyes of compassion, even when we disagree. Give me wisdom to identify and stand against the true enemies of your kingdom. Amen.
Day 4: Anger as Fuel for the Kingdom
Devotional
What if anger isn't meant to be suppressed or unleashed, but transformed? What if the energy of our anger could be redirected toward kingdom purposes?
In Mark 11, Jesus entered the temple, saw the exploitation happening there, and expressed righteous anger by overturning tables. His anger wasn't destructive—it was purifying. It wasn't about hurting people but about restoring sacred space.
When surrendered to Jesus, our anger can become fuel for positive change. The outrage we feel at injustice can drive us to advocate for the vulnerable. Our frustration with brokenness can motivate us to build something better. Our grief over sin's effects can push us toward healing ministries.
But this transformation doesn't happen automatically. It requires surrender. We must bring our raw emotions to Jesus and allow Him to reshape them according to His purposes. We must ask: "Lord, what would you have me do with this anger?"
The world doesn't need more angry Christians lashing out. It needs followers of Jesus who channel their righteous indignation into Christ-like action—who get angry at what angers God and respond as He would respond.
Today, consider how your anger might become fuel for God's kingdom rather than a destructive force in your relationships. Ask God to show you how to direct that energy toward fighting darkness rather than fighting people.
Bible Verse
"On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves." - Mark 11:15
Reflection Question
What injustice or brokenness in the world makes you angry, and how might God want to use that anger as fuel for positive action?
Quote
"Anger, when surrendered to Jesus, becomes fuel for his kingdom."
Prayer
Jesus, I surrender my anger to you today. Transform it from something that tears down to something that builds up your kingdom. Show me how to channel my strongest emotions into love, justice, and healing. Use even my outrage for your glory. Amen.
Day 5: From Anger to Hope
Devotional
Anger without hope leads to despair or destruction. But the gospel offers us something revolutionary: anger that leads to resurrection.
At Lazarus's tomb, Jesus' anger didn't end with His emotional response. It culminated in calling forth life from death. His righteous indignation became the backdrop for one of His most powerful miracles.
This is the pattern of God's kingdom. Death doesn't get the final word. Sin doesn't win. Evil has no lasting victory. As Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 15, death is the last enemy to be destroyed—and in Christ, its defeat is already assured.
When we align our anger with God's heart, we participate in this pattern. We don't just rage against darkness; we work toward the light. We don't just lament what's broken; we become part of God's restoration project. Our anger becomes a doorway to hope.
This is why Christians can face the world's worst realities without being overcome by them. We can look squarely at injustice, suffering, and evil, feel appropriate anger, and still declare with confidence: this is not how the story ends.
Today, whatever darkness you're facing, remember that Jesus has already defeated the ultimate enemy. Death itself has lost its sting. Let your righteous anger drive you not toward despair but toward the light of Christ, who is making all things new.
Bible Verse
"The last enemy to be destroyed is death." - 1 Corinthians 15:26
Reflection Question
How does the resurrection hope we have in Christ change the way you respond to the things that rightfully anger you?
Quote
"What hope does evil have if death itself has lost its threat against us? What hope? Zero."
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for defeating death and giving me unshakable hope. Help me to direct my anger not just against darkness but toward your light. Use me as an instrument of your resurrection power in this broken world. I declare with confidence that you have the final word over every situation that breaks my heart. Amen.