Very rare is the person who enjoys confrontation.  Most of us simply do our best to avoid it at all costs.  We go out of our way to keep cordial relations and only confront when someone pushes us too far or “backs us in a corner.”  We get all worked up and angry, then suddenly confrontation isn’t that hard.  In fact, when we’re mad it’s rather easy.

We use our anger as a courage battery.  It serves to give us boldness we would not normally have and makes it so much easier to stand up for ourselves.  The problem is that, under the influence of anger, we lose control of the confrontation.  Invariably we say or do something we regret and escalate the problem further.  How many angry words do men wish they could take back?

The real challenge is to be able to engage in confrontation and not let anger have its way.  Jesus was angry, even to the point that He drove men from the temple with whips, but yet He did not sin.  We may feel angry, but we should never allow that emotion to determine our actions.

If you look closely at the anger of Jesus, you’ll notice that His anger was always in defense of God (the temple) or of others (toward the Pharisees).  When he was personally attacked, He kept His cool.  Perhaps this is how we gain control of our anger- to do as He did, and let the personal attacks roll away with forgiveness.  Therefore, next time we are tempted to “lose our cool,” let us ask why we are angry.  If the reason has to do with our own pride or feelings, let us model the words of Jesus at the moment He suffered the greatest offense of all- “Father… forgive them.”