Learn to manage your emotions

Fri, 6 Jan 2023

‘He comforted them and spoke kindly to them.’ Genesis 50:21

If you have read the story of Joseph, you realise he had every reason to be angry, bitter and vindictive for the despicable way his brothers treated him. But what does he do? He doesn’t get enraged. He doesn’t even get even. He helps Egypt, the land that enslaved and falsely imprisoned him, to survive famine. He feeds his family when they come begging for food. He forgives, and in doing so, he is freed from his negative emotions. He resolves past issues, does not allow them to deter his destiny, and stays in God's favour.

As second-in-command in Egypt, Joseph held the power of life and death over those who had hurt him. Yet he told them: ‘But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now, therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.’ (Genesis 50:20–21 NKJV) We all have emotional reactions in our relationships; the problem isn’t the anger or the disappointment—unless your emotions control you. Whenever anger causes you to damage the things God has given you charge over, your emotions are being mismanaged. You give territory to the devil when you fail to manage your anger.

‘And “Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.’ (Ephesians 4:26–27 NLT) So, the word for today is—learn to manage your emotions.