The event that caused me to lose my temper the other day has disappeared from memory. I’m not even sure how I spent this morning. Can you relate? Time flies, and we move from one thing to the next. Whatever problem got me irritated apparently got resolved. I do remember that my patient husband, Steve, forgave me when I apologized.

As a young mom, it seemed I was hollering at my kids too often. I’d say sorry and ask for forgiveness, but the problem persisted. Off my son (or daughter) and I would go to the bedroom, and I’d tell him how he could do better. Then I would administer a few swats to his behind and pray for him and let him pray, too. Then there were the times I didn’t treat my kids nearly as patiently and would forget to pray with them after they received a spanking or were sent to bed early. Or I’d just yell louder. On Sundays at church, there was an altar call, and I’d find myself kneeling again and pleading with God to forgive me.

The Bible says, “for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19. How I wish I had learned sooner how to keep from giving in to my sinful impulses.

It’s been more than 20 years since I made peace with God and learned to let Him control my response to problems and people. The turning point was finding Jeff, a biblical counselor. The realization that hit me like a brick was that I was angry with God. Mad at Him for lots of hard things. Once I admitted and asked forgiveness for my anger toward the Lord, a study of the lives of Jonah and Joseph from the Old Testament helped me learn the wrong and right responses to things that disappointed me. Jeff equipped me with God’s truth so I wouldn’t be so apt to lose my temper when life didn’t go my way.

I finally asked for help. It took courage for me to come out of the closet about my sinful anger and seek support. Once those steps were taken, I made slow, steady progress in letting God control my outbursts or eliminating them all together.

Admitting we have a problem and asking for help are humbling but necessary if we want victory over wrongdoing. The Bible says in Proverbs 15:22, “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.”  Thank God He and His people are there to support and guide us to triumph.