Anger As A Teacher, Not A Tyrant

I have been thinking a lot lately about how anger (and rage) has become such an ever-present part of our current culture, and what it is doing to us.  

There's an undercurrent of anger that is thrumming in our society, fueled by clickbait viral videos, social media algorithms, and carefully curated news feeds.  Depending on our political and social views, we tend to hear and see exactly what it takes to keep us agitated, to keep us watching and growing angrier.  

And if you dare to try to be reasonable, to advocate for restraint, God help you.  You just might get hammered for it online, or lose friends over tableside arguments.  

There is no shortage of reasons to feel anger in our world today. We see injustice, cruelty, indifference, and brokenness, and something within us rises up. I know that I feel it almost every day.  

However, not all anger is detrimental to us.  Anger can be a powerful barometer of our inner life, pointing to fear, despair, or righteous indignation. 

Left ignored or suppressed, however, anger can fester, harden our hearts, and lash out destructively toward ourselves and others. But if we learn to approach it with wisdom, anger can be transformed into a generative force for love and justice.

Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us: 

“I would not look upon anger as something foreign to me that I have to fight... I have to deal with my anger with care, with love, with tenderness, with nonviolence.”

This perspective is a radical invitation. Instead of treating anger as an enemy to defeat, we are asked to receive it as a visitor—one that must be met with patience and compassion, lest it consume us.

Scripture does not deny anger. The Apostle Paul acknowledges, “Be angry, but do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26). Jesus himself displayed righteous anger in the temple (Matthew 21:12–13), but it was not a rage that sought destruction—it was a passion that sought to restore holiness and justice. 

James counsels us, “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). The difference lies in how we steward the fire within us.

Anger can either burn bridges or light a path. It can either corrode the soul or compel us to act with courage and compassion. We are not called to deny our anger when we see wrong in the world. Instead, we are called to transform it—through prayer, reflection, and community—into loving, life-giving action that aligns with God’s justice and mercy.

Do not deny your anger, and do not let it control you. Let it become fuel for truth-telling, courage, and hope. Let it move you to act in ways that bring healing, justice, and peace.

Prayer

Holy God,
You see the pain of the world, and You also see the anger that rises within us. Help us not to suppress or be consumed by it, but to treat it with care, tenderness, and nonviolence. Transform our anger into courage, our fear into compassion, and our despair into hope. Let our lives reflect Your justice and mercy. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. When I feel anger, what deeper emotions might be fueling it—fear, grief, love, or longing for justice?

2. How can I respond to anger in ways that bring healing rather than harm?

3. What practices (prayer, silence, conversation, action) help me transform my anger into life-giving energy aligned with God’s purposes?