Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.
This passage of scripture calls upon us to maintain a balanced temperament under all circumstances, even when we are angry. It also tells us that we should not allow wrath to fester and boil overnight, for when this is permitted, the devil often stokes the fires of rage to produce un-Christlike words and deeds, in those who harbor bad feelings to others. This is especially true as it pertains to husbands and wives who have sensitive issues to be resolved between themselves, issues that can draw them apart if left without a resolution for too long. Before disagreements arise within the marriage, as they certainly will, both husband and wife should early form the habit of speaking kindly and in a Christlike manner, without raising their voices, and the first response to any given difficulty should be prayer, for Christians always win their battles on their knees. Let's read:
Isaiah 26:3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
This is what Rachel failed to do when she was faced with the prospect of being childless, a condition that was erroneously considered to be a curse back in those days. As her sister Leah became pregnant time and time again, and several healthy children were born to her, Rachel was driven to desperation, and in her anger and utter discouragement, uttered one of the most unreasonable requests ever made to mortal man. Let's read:
Genesis 30:1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
This irrational request consequently caused Jacob to blow a fuse, and he retorted with angry words, which then pushed Rachel to make an ungodly proposal to remedy the situation. Let's read:
Genesis 30:2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? 3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
A totally different outcome would have accrued if only Jacob and Rachel had not sinned in their anger, but had taken the matter to God in prayer, with a humble and contrite spirit. When we become angry it becomes more difficult to pray, for human pride and will often becomes a stumbling block to humility and faith. In addition, we should be very careful not to say or act irrationally under perplexing circumstances, for like Jacob and Rachel we often make grave mistakes when given to emotional outbursts of any kind.
In our own experiences, we should form the habit of taking everything to God in prayer, especially when we feel those angry words and feelings burning in our souls, for if we turn to God before we snap at anyone, He will give us that peace which passes all understanding, and we would be enabled by His grace to stay calm under the most trying circumstances. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to turn to Christ in good times and bad, for if we do there ain't no problem too difficult for God to solve. Let's read:
1st Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
May this passage of scripture resonate in our minds to keep us calm and composed in all situations. God bless!