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17 Quotes and Bible Verses to Calm Down When Feeling Anger

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Everyone struggles with anger. 

It’s a natural emotion that happens for everyone, whether it’s a small annoyance or a huge outburst of rage. This intense emotion can sometimes be expressed through harsh words or actions. However, acting on these feelings can often leave us feeling guilty afterward.

Fortunately, the Bible has numerous details and advice about how we should handle anger and aggressive emotions.

In this article, we’ll talk about 17 Bible verses pertaining to anger and how to deal with it.

What does Jesus say about anger?

Christ's humanity stands out as one of his most fascinating characteristics. Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus wasn’t always an even-tempered man. There were a few times when he got angry. 

What distinguishes Jesus's anger from ours is that it was motivated by the right reasons. It angered him when God was dishonored and when people took advantage of others through the Church. 

The Bible describes many individuals who show such righteous anger. Righteous anger is a result of witnessing an offense against God or His Word. Righteous anger is concerned with others on God’s behalf. Instead of attacking the sinner, it attacks the sin itself. 

Anger is a powerful emotion, but it can have adverse consequences. That’s why it’s important to examine our anger and where it stems from. 

Can our anger result in actions that contribute to bringing God's Gospel and the Holy Spirit to people in a loving manner? Will we isolate someone because of our anger, causing them to stray away from faith as a result? We should be patient with anger and filter every emotion through the way God wants us to handle them.

Proverbs 29:7 says, The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.

Whenever our self-reliant anger is directed against something we perceive as wrong, we fail to recognize that mere human anger cannot change hearts and minds. This means that anger alone doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.

God is the righteous judge, and His steadfast love is the only thing that truly quiets contention. 

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What does the Bible say about revenge?

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Scripture has a lot to say about anger. 

Revenge is an emotion that's closely related to anger. When someone wrongs us, we feel angry about the situation, which can sometimes lead us to want to enact revenge upon them. 

The Bible has a great deal to say about revenge. Both the root meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words “vengeance,” “revenge,” and “avenge” translated have a meaning associated with punishment. While God is the only one who reserves the right to punish and avenge, we can understand why these words have a root in punishment. 

While we take revenge from impure motives, God's revenge is always intended to punish those who have offended and rejected Him. There’s a temptation to bring about the wrath of God ourselves and punish those who deserve it. But since human beings are flawed, we cannot take revenge with pure motivations. 

This is why the Mosaic Law contains the command, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD” (Leviticus. 19:18). 

As Christians, we're instructed to follow the Lord Jesus’s command to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

God exalts a wise man who rejects a quick temper and knows that a soft answer turns more heads than a shout.

Bible verses about anger

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Anger can rip apart relationships and destroy communication, ruining joy as well as personal health for many. Unfortunately, it’s common for people to justify their anger instead of taking accountability for it. Thanks to God's Word, both the Old Testament and the New Testament contain principles regarding handling anger and coping with it in a Godly manner.

 Bible verses about anger

  • My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry (James 1:19).
  • “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).
  • But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips (Colossians 3:8).
  • Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:9).
  • But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell (Matthew 5:22).

Bible verses about letting go of anger

One of the hardest things for people to do is let go of their anger. While anger can be justified in many situations, holding on to anger only hurts you in the long run. 

There’s an adage that likens constant anger to holding onto hot coals. Your anger may burn hot and bright, but in the end, you’re the one who’s getting burned. 

Here are some Bible verses to help you with releasing anger:

  • If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest (Ecclesiastes 10:4).
  • Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice (Ephesians 4:31).
  • I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling… (1 Timothy 2:8). 
  • Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14).

Bible verses about self-control

Sometimes our anger can get completely out of control. If we’re not careful, that anger can quickly turn into unbridled rage. That’s why it’s important to maintain a sense of self-control over our emotional responses. The importance of self-control is something we need to teach our children, especially early on. 

Here are some Bible verses about self-control:

  • Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land (Psalm 37: 8-9).
  • But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).
  • For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).
  • For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).

Bible verses about revenge

The anger of man can be a dangerous thing. Above all, God is the only one who can truly enact revenge upon a person. He is the ultimate judge and has the final say. That’s why we should try to stray away from taking revenge ourselves. 

Here’s what the Bible says about revenge: 

  • Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you (Proverbs 20:22).
  • Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord (Romans 12:19).
  • “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also (Matthew 5:38-39).
  • “But to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28).

Learn to let go

Retribution has a very clearly defined role in the Bible. 

God tells us in Romans 12:19 not to take revenge and to leave it to Him. By seeking revenge, we are taking God's place as the ultimate judge. God wants us to have a great understanding of ourselves and our emotions. 

Whenever we become enraged or focused on the wrongs of others, we become filled with anger and hate. The love and forgiveness of God can be seen in the way we love and forgive. 

A day of redemption can come for everyone in the Kingdom of God. Push away wrath and leave revenge in the hands of the Lord.

For more about Bible verses, download the Pray.com app in the iOS App Store or Google Play.

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