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Pop Goes the Weasel!
By Susanne Scheppmann

"A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)

Today we live in a society of anger. Road rage rears its ugly head over minor traffic infractions. Small annoyances infuriate us. Corporations offer anger management courses to help us deal with our tempers. Anger rules our lives.

I understand anger. My oldest son was hyperactive to the extreme. As a young, high-strung mom, I became furious at times with some of his antics, though never to the point of harming him. I realized that when my anger popped up like a sneaky weasel, it was time to put my son in time-out for a while. I needed the break, and so did he for his own safety.

What we must realize is that anger in and of itself is not sin. Anger is a God-given emotion. Even Jesus became angry at times (See Mark 3:5; John 2:13-17). Anger is an emotional response to certain situations. However, when anger begins to consume us or turns us into people of uncontrollable rage, that is when we need to look for guidance and learn how to manage it.

Fortunately, God gives followers of Christ their own handbook on anger management - the Bible. Ephesians 4:26 reads, "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." I can't count how many times I have gone to bed in anger with my husband. I roll my back to him and stew for hours about the perceived injustice, while he snores peacefully in a deep sleep. Grrrr . . . growls my anger. How dare he sleep when I am mad? He wakes up with a cheery outlook; I roll out of bed with a migraine. How much better would it be if I were to let go of my anger and to sleep with peace in my heart?

Another verse states, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1 NIV). I learned the truth of this verse with my teenagers. They responded much better to a gentle verbal response than when I lashed out at them with a harsh word or tone. I plastered this verse everywhere in my home and even in my car. The verse reminded me that I could choose anger or gentleness. It was my decision. I could choose gentleness or pop my emotional cork!

So now, when my anger threatens to run away with me, I grab my anger management Book. I search the Scriptures to determine which ones apply to my immediate circumstances. I want to be wise in my anger, not like a fool who pops like a weasel.

With a compassionate heart and a deep passion for Jesus, Susanne Scheppmann offers relevant hope to her audiences across the country. She speaks with humility, warmth, and humor. Susanne 's engaging storytelling and creative parable teachings help relate biblical principles to the everyday circumstances of today's women. She is a down-to-earth woman with a contagious faith in Jesus and an enthusiastic love for biblical truths. Her presentations are especially designed to connect with audiences of all ages and stages of life. Her messages are insightful, memorable, and life changing. If you would be interested in having Susanne as a speaker, contact at Proverbs 31 at Speaker@proverbs31.org.