Faithful Lord,

Thank you for feelings. 

We confess, too many of us have mistakenly believed 

that Christians aren’t supposed to feel feelings, 

especially negative ones. 

And yet, your word is filled with feelings, 

yes, even negative ones: 

sorrow, lament, anger, confusion. 

Forgive us for not listening carefully.

It is true—anger can be a knee-jerk response 

after a hot and exhausting day 

of touring a new city. 

It can be thoughtless and mean.

And yet, it might be a clue — 

to our sin or to another’s. 

It might reveal deep harm to your image in us. 

That’s why anger should make us pause. 

Lead us to ask you and ourselves, 

“Why am I feeling so angry?” 

Help us to stay silent for the moment 

so we can hear your answer. 

It may take more than one night, 

but if we keep coming back to you 

every day with our anger, 

pursuing you in our anger, 

anger will not control us—

it won’t make us bitter, 

it won’t lead us to destroy others. 

Lord, only by your grace 

can we feel our anger 

and allow it to take us to healthier places—

choosing to remain silent 

or choosing to engage in healthy conflict; 

choosing to ask forgiveness

or choosing to forgive. 

Read Psalm 4; Ephesians 4:26-27.