The author from the devotional I was reading that year posed a question, and I was pondering how to apply it in my life. We have access to many resources that can help us in our spiritual walk here on earth.  However, we always need to check it out with God to see how or if we can apply it to our own lives. From a teacher aspect, application is a crucial step in the learning process. A familiar cliché comes to mind: “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”

From the journal . . . . November 2018

Lord, the author asks two questions: Are you doing things that could cause others to sin?  How could you put a stop to this?   

Romans 14:13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. 

Hmm.  I could cause Mark to sin.  He gets so mad sometimes, so I think I must provoke him.

And I Believe God Said:

Keep loving but remember: You aren’t responsible for his actions.  Sometimes when he’s angry, it would be best for you to take ‘a time out.’  If need be, confess your angry responses to Me. 

A gentle answer turns away wrath but sometimes the answer isn’t verbal. It’s a response. 

Pro. 15:1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

It was necessary for me to know I wasn’t responsible for his angry actions, but I was responsible for my own actions and responses.  They could be helpful or make things worse for both of us. *

There was a commercial on TV probably forty years ago for a TV dinner company.  All I remember is the refrain, “How do you handle a hungry maaan?”  The desired response was to give him a Hungry Man frozen TV dinner. I would often say to myself or God, “How do I handle an angry maaan?” The answers were found in Scripture and by the Holy Spirit, but it took many years of trial-and-error application to get a handle on it, and even now, I don’t always get it right. 

I have learned some things in my fifty-two years of marriage concerning anger. Here’s two of them: 1. Silence can be truly golden, especially where anger is present. No matter the cause of someone’s anger, the gentle answer or silence is usually the best bet.  That’s what the Word says!

Pro. 15:1 A gentle answer deflects anger,
    but harsh words make tempers flare.

2. There’s a difference between being the cause of something and being responsible for it.

*There are many disfunctions in our culture that cause us to come up with some crazy notions. Alcoholism was present in both my husband’s family and mine as we grew up, so we brought a double portion of dysfunction into our marriage.  That doesn’t just go away when Jesus comes in, but He is always available and faithful to help us along the way! 

Psalm 50:15 Then call on Me when you are in trouble,
    and I will rescue you,
    and you will give Me glory.”