God Inspired Her

A couple of weeks ago I forgot who I was.

Everything that I know I am in God slipped my mind.

Every curse word I could think of I said. I was so upset at someone. Thinking of all the times I have come through for this person. The times I have turned the other cheek when this person cursed me out. And what did I do? Keep on doing what I thought Jesus would want me to do. Not say anything back, forgive him, and continue to be kind.

But this time…..oh this time. I lost it!

Things I have wanted to say for years came out. Now mind you, I didn’t say it to him. I just said it out loud to myself. I don’t like drama. I’m not here for arguments. It’s too stressful for me.

Long story short, I went loose in the tongue. And then had to repent. I fell to my knees and asked God for forgiveness. I knew better. Usually, when I get that upset, I automatically start praying and thinking of how good God is to me. This time I didn’t do that. All I wanted to do was smack the mess out of this person.

I had to sit down with my Bible and study how to not explode like that again.

According to the James 1:19 which states, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”.

You can avoid saying angry words by being slow to anger, speaking in love, and acting with grace. This isn’t just some dusty, outdated advice; it’s a practical roadmap for navigating the turbulent waters of emotion s. Think about it: how many times have you regretted something you said in the heat of the moment? Words, once spoken, can’t be taken back. They can wound, they can damage relationships, and they can leave lasting scars. Which is what I didn’t want to do at that time. If I would have picked up the phone and dialed that number; I would have done just that! So, how do we put these biblical principles into practice?

Being slow to anger doesn’t mean suppressing your emotions. It means recognizing them, acknowledging them, and choosing how to respond rather than reacting impulsively. It’s about taking a breath. You might count to ten. Do whatever it takes to create a space between the trigger and your response. This pause allows you to engage your mind. You can consider the situation from different perspectives. Choose words that build up rather than tear down.

Speaking in love is about more than just saying “I love you.” It’s about communicating with kindness, empathy, and respect, even when you disagree. It’s about listening more than you speak. You should seek to understand the other person’s perspective. Choose words that are seasoned with grace. It’s recognizing that the person you’re talking to is also a child of God. They are worthy of dignity and respect, even if they’ve hurt you or made you angry.

Acting with grace is the outward expression of an inward transformation. It’s about extending forgiveness, offering compassion, and choosing to respond with kindness even when you feel justified in being angry. It’s recognizing that everyone makes mistakes, including ourselves, and offering the same grace to others that we hope to receive. This doesn’t mean condoning hurtful behavior. It means choosing to respond in a way that reflects God’s character. This approach promotes healing rather than further division. It’s a process, not a destination, and we’ll stumble along the way. We can transform our communication by consistently practicing these principles. These include being slow to anger, speaking in love, and acting with grace. This approach helps us strengthen our relationships. We can create a more peaceful and loving world around us.

Janice