Holding Steady In A Shaken World

I saw a video the other day of an older man shouting at some protesters at one of the hundreds of recent protests across the U.S. He said some awful things and used vile epithets to refer to someone off-camera and to the person filming him. 

A young man on a skateboard flashed by the man and swiped the sunglasses off his face, and a short-lived chase ensued.  The older guy face-planted in the middle of the street and stumbled around with his face bloodied before falling again.  

Some protesters appeared to be trying to calm the man down and guide him away, telling him he was hurt.  It was a pitiful moment that exemplified the level of rage in our culture. 

You could argue that the man hurling despicable insults got what he deserved, but it was a hollow victory at best.  You could also argue that he was provoked by being assaulted and robbed, and was a victim in this scenario. 

The fact is, in that one incident and the thousands of other moments like it across our divided country, we all lose. Our collective rage is simmering not far below the surface, ready to erupt at any moment.  

For those of us who say we follow Jesus, it's time to lower the temperature and embody the grace and peace of Christ to the world.  

The philosopher and poet Hazrat Inayat Khan once wrote: 

“Very often in everyday life one sees that by losing one's temper with someone who has already lost his, one does not gain anything but only sets out upon the path of stupidity. He who has enough self-control to stand firm at the moment when the other person is in a temper, wins in the end. It is not he who has spoken a hundred words aloud who has won; it is he who has perhaps spoken only one word.” 

We live in an age of reaction—outrage travels faster than understanding. Online arguments ignite in seconds, political conversations flare into hostility, and even within families, the smallest spark can set off a firestorm. In such a world, self-control's ancient virtue feels countercultural and urgently needed.

Hazrat Inayat Khan’s wisdom reminds us that when we meet anger with anger, we “set out upon the path of stupidity.” The video I referenced is a perfect example of this.   

Khan's insight aligns closely with Scripture: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Self-control is not weakness but strength harnessed. It takes deep spiritual maturity to pause rather than pounce, to listen rather than lash out, and to choose grace when the easier option is fury.

Jesus himself modeled this beautifully. When provoked, misunderstood, and insulted, he remained centered in compassion. Before Pilate, he spoke only when necessary—his silence was not passivity but power under control. Paul lists self-control among the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), a reminder that restraint is not born from suppression but from surrender—the yielding of our impulses to the shaping work of God.

In a divisive world, those who can stay calm amid the storm become agents of peace. It’s not about winning arguments or silencing opponents; it’s about embodying love in the heat of conflict. As Khan said, “It is not he who has spoken a hundred words aloud who has won; it is he who has perhaps spoken only one word.” Sometimes that “one word” might simply be peace.

Today, practice the sacred pause. When provoked, breathe before you speak. Let grace guide your response. In a world ablaze with anger, your calm spirit can be the cool wind that brings peace.

Prayer:
Lord, grant me the strength to hold my tongue when I want to strike back,
the patience to listen when others rage,
and the grace to mirror Your peace in a divided world.
Shape my heart with self-control, that I may act with love. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. When was the last time I reacted in anger—and what might have changed if I had paused first?

2. How can I cultivate the spiritual fruit of self-control in my daily interactions?

3. What does it look like for me to “speak only one word” of grace amid conflict this week?