Water to Fumes

Bible verse: Proverbs 15:18 "A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel."

Insight: There are so many situations that we find ourselves in that can stir up anger—whether it be about opinions or situations, we may feel so passionately about something that it angers us when someone disagrees with us. How about if someone were to question Christianity? Isn't that hurtful? It can even be anger-inducing. The truth is that sometimes our emotions take over and we become reactive instead of thinking thoroughly about how we should respond. We live in a world that is so insistent on having the last word. There is hatred spewed all around us because of opposing views and the need to be right. Do we want to be the person that stirs up conflict or the one who calms the quarrel? We are going to go through life with a million people shouting what they think is right and wrong. We will experience this within our families, between our friends, and everywhere we go— let's be the calm still voice that does not respond with equal parts anger but instead with patience and wisdom. It takes a lot of prayer to release the need to be right to God. There are so many emotions that come with the arguments that are being had today. Let's strive to be people who react with patience and think thoroughly about what we say.

Work application: There may be the people around you who either speak in anger and gossip or those who speak with patience and calmness. There may be people in the workplace who stir up gossip or try to demean others because they are easy to anger. It's hard to avoid situations like that when you're surrounded by them. Being set apart and patient in the midst of the people who try to tear you down alleviates the reactivity within yourself and keeps you away from the drama. Imagine an instance where all of your coworkers begin to talk about someone who is not there at the moment. They begin to demean that person or speak about them unprofessionally. What do you do in that situation? If you cannot physically remove yourself from being in the middle of the gossip, what else can you do? This is a chance to be the calm in the midst of anger. They may try to bring you into the conversation but remember to think thoroughly before you speak—be the calm. We always have the opportunity to show God in our actions and reactions! The words we speak carry so much weight, so let's strive to be bringers of peace everywhere we go. Robert Curts, co-author of From Illusion to Reality speaks on the ability to use the troubles we face to propel us to levels we've never reached before. Each time you face difficulties in your career or life, take it as an opportunity to grow from those troubles, learn from them, and let them shape you.

Grateful: I am grateful to serve a God who is patient. I am grateful that He continues to grow me and my patience.

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Contributor: Jessica Carrera holds a B.A. in English with a concentration in writing and a minor in Biblical Studies from Biola University. She aspires to touch the lives of others through her words.