Operation

Sunday, we talked about Wrath/Anger—often expressed as displeasure, hostility, rage, or resentment—is a powerful and sometimes vengeful emotion that can arise especially when a person feels slighted or their pride is wounded. Because of its intensity and the way, it distorts judgment, anger is described as one of the most fundamental problems in human life.

People commonly fall into several traps when dealing with anger. It can create a false sense of power or control, push us into isolation, convince us that we are always right, or make us feel responsible for fixing others. Sometimes we justify harmful reactions by labeling them as “righteous anger.”

Scripture offers guidance for managing anger, with passages such as Ephesians 4, James 1, Proverbs, Psalms 4, and Colossians 3 emphasizing self‑control, patience, gentleness, and the importance of not letting anger lead to sin or destructive behavior.

John 8:1–11 provides a model for responding to emotionally charged situations with wisdom and compassion. From this example comes the PPR Method for controlling anger:

• Pause — Step back before reacting.

• Pray — Seek clarity, humility, and guidance.

• Respond — Act with intention rather than impulse.

Together, these principles highlight a path toward healthier emotional responses and more peaceful relationships.

When you think someone is intentionally hurting you, anger rises naturally. But the moment you realize there was no intention—like discovering the boat was empty—the anger dissolves. Many people who hurt us aren’t acting out of malice toward us but out of their own unresolved pain, confusion, or trauma.

Seeing them as “empty boats” doesn’t excuse the harm, but it reminds us not to take everything personally. Their actions are often about their inner struggles, not about our worth.

- Chuck McCoskey, Recovery Ministry Leader