Beyond Control

“Be angry, and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” (Ephesians 4: 26)

There are some people or circumstances that drive me nuts. They try my patience and bring out my worst qualities. If you experienced that type of relationship, then God has a solution for your condition. What was that condition - exasperation - that point at which you feel totally out of control?

The other day, while driving on the highway, I experienced exasperation. Why? Usually, when I’m in a hurry to make my appointments, I get behind a car driving 20 to 30 miles under the speed limit entering the on ramp. At the end of the ramp, the car sped up to enter the highway. I shouted, “Where did you learn how to merge?” Finally on the highway, I noticed the bumper to bumper traffic up ahead. Already late for my meeting, I could feel that tension in my neck - that shooting pain between my shoulder blade and neck muscles. My head started pounding. This was an important meeting with our suppliers and the vice president of my company. I had to be at that meeting.

Just when I thought I could not take another delay, I noticed the flashing red lights up ahead. Several cars had collided blocking traffic. I shouted, “You idiots! Now, I’m really, really going to be late.” That was not the end of my exasperating experience. Somewhere, between trying to avoid hitting the stopped car in front of me and making a lane change, I shouted, “Let me in. LET ME IN!” I resisted the temptation to shout “You idiots!” Then my cell phone rang.

After making the lane change and answering my cell phone, I remembered reading the above verse about “Be angry, and do not sin.” What did “be angry” mean? Did it give me a license to shout those unkind remarks? The angry mentioned in this verse means: experiencing exasperation. Feeling guilty from this situation, I cried out to the Lord for grace to avoid another occurrence of unkind remarks. I needed God’s grace inorder to not sin with my unkind comments.

Just remember during your exasperating relationships, don’t sin but pray for grace to overcome your temptation to shout unkind comments.

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