I was watching a short video the other day. Two men were sitting outside, talking about life. At one point, the older gentleman turned to the younger, smiled, and said something that made me pause: “The definition of anger is an emotional punishment you give yourself for somebody else’s behavior.”
Those words stayed with me. They reminded me of a time when my own name was dragged through the mud. When lies were spoken about me by people I trusted. They whispered behind my back, twisting stories until even strangers believed them. It felt like they were trying to destroy my character, to paint a picture of me that wasn’t true.
Everything in me wanted to fight back. I wanted to defend myself, set the record straight, clear my name. But I didn’t. I stayed silent.
Not because I didn’t care: lies hurt, but because deep down, I knew the truth. And more importantly, I knew God knew the truth. Sometimes, that’s enough.
Even so, staying quiet doesn’t erase the frustration of being blamed for things I didn’t do. I felt misunderstood and, honestly, betrayed.
But then I remembered how Jesus faced the same thing. People lied about Him too. They accused Him of working with the devil (Matthew 12:22-24). They tried to twist His words and discredit His mission. And yet, He didn’t waste His energy trying to defend Himself.
When He stood before Pilate, He mostly stayed quiet. When they hurled insults, He didn’t hurl them back. Why? Because He trusted His Father. He knew the truth didn’t need defending. God Himself would bring justice in the right time. (Matthew 27:12-14)
That’s the lesson: sometimes the strongest move is patience and faith. Choosing calm, trusting the process, and refusing to let lies steal your peace. Because in the middle of my pain, God spoke to me quietly and said, “Your name is safe with Me. I will bring justice in My time.” That promise gave me hope. It reminded me that God sees everything, even when others don’t. His justice is what truly matters.
When someone lies about you, mistreats you, or disrespects you, anger feels natural. It’s human. But here’s the problem: anger doesn’t hurt the other person, it hurts you.
You’re the one replaying the conversations in your head, losing sleep, carrying the burden of something you can’t change. Meanwhile, the people you’re upset with? They’ve probably moved on.
Anger builds walls. It clouds your judgment and hardens your heart, and spreads into every area of your life: your relationships, your work, your heart.
Letting go on the other hand, opens the door to peace. It creates space to breathe, to heal, to move forward.
The Bible says it plainly: “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”(Ephesians 4:26-27)
Anger opens the door for destruction. Letting go opens the door for God to move.
Even if you take faith out of it, anger rarely does what we hope it will. It raises stress, damages health, and can poison relationships. People who stay calm, who listen more than they speak, carry a strength that anger can't touch.
“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)
Let’s keep it real: blowing up might feel good for a moment, but it rarely solves anything. Whether you’re stuck in traffic, having a bad day at work, or facing betrayal, reacting in anger doesn’t bring healing or clarity... it only prolongs the pain.
Letting go of anger doesn't mean ignoring what happened. It’s putting the offense in God’s hands and saying: “I trust You to fight for me. I trust You to heal me. I trust You to bring justice in Your time."
Anger will show up. People will hurt you, betray you, and even lie about you. But your power isn’t in avoiding anger, it’s in how you handle it.
The next time anger comes knocking, pause. Breathe. Pray. Respond in a way that reflects who you are, not what they did.
And remember: the truth always outlives the lie. Your name, your peace, your future; they're all safe in God’s hands, when you refuse to let anger rule your life.
Take a moment today. Think about what's bothering you. Ask yourself: Is holding onto this helping me, or hurting me? Letting go doesn't mean weakness, it means freedom.
Pray With Me
Father,
You see my heart. You know the hurt, the frustration, and the moments when anger tries to take over. Help me not to react out of emotion, but to respond in wisdom. Teach me to trust You with justice, with healing, and with every battle I face. Soften my heart. Guard my peace. And remind me that You are my defender. I give this anger to You, and I choose freedom.
