Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
9 25 2026
Anger Is a Smoke Detector
Anger may knock on the door, but we decide whether it becomes a visitor—or moves in.
Men particularly—but certainly women too—have an anger problem. I believe our culture has been breeding it into us for the last forty years: You have rights! Stand up for yourself! Fight back! Protest! Some of that may be justified, but too often standing up has turned into screaming, personal insults and degradation, retaliation, and even physical violence.
That was not the way of Christ.
But what about being angry and not showing it? Anger itself is a normal human emotion, and as Jesus demonstrated, not all anger is sinful. But sadly, too much of ours is. Hopefully, with God’s grace, we can hold our tongues and ask the Holy Spirit for the strength not to release those angry words. That is one reason morning prayer is so important.
Time with God fortifies our spirit before the pressures of the day begin testing it.
Holding your tongue, however, is not the same as healing your heart. Once anger rises inside us, simply burying or suppressing it can be dangerous. We can be so quick to bury these unpleasant situations, but never return to resolve them. What we refuse to confront typically resurfaces later through anxiety, passive-aggressive behavior, sudden outbursts, damaged relationships, or even physical stress. (We have buried those instance and have even forgotten many of them).
So we must ask: Is my anger safely resting…or dangerously trapped?
The world offers some practical answers. Run, work out, scream into a pillow, or write a “burn letter” containing everything you want to say. Just don’t send it…burn it! (And I remember doing that years ago.) Those things may release some emotional pressure, but releasing pressure is not the same as resolving the underlying wound.
Anger is an emotional smoke detector. Once the alarm quiets, we still need to discover why it went off. Was a boundary crossed? Was someone mistreated? Was I truly defending another person…or was my pride wounded because I did not receive the respect, agreement, or attention I thought I deserved? Now that time has passed, do I see the conflict differently?…did I pick up the spirit of offense? Did I show it…speak it out…or did I bury it, leaving that spirit intact within me?
“Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26–27). Did you ever notice that God places an expiration date on anger?
He is telling us not to sleep on an unresolved offense,
allowing it to settle more deeply into our thinking. The Greek word topos, translated “place” or “foothold,” means territory or an occupied space. Unresolved anger can actually surrender part of our mental and spiritual real estate to bitterness, malice, and division. Think about the ground we have given Satan to take up residence in, because we won’t resolve it.
Sinful anger is usually focused on self. It is fueled by wounded pride, inconvenience, embarrassment, or the desire to punish, defend, avenge, or destroy.
Righteous anger is different. It is stirred by injustice, oppression, and harm done to others. It remains controlled and deliberate, and its goal is to protect, correct, and restore…not retaliate.
A biblical but assertive conversation might begin like this: “I value our relationship, which is why I want to be honest rather than allow something to build between us. When this happened, I felt hurt and disrespected. Scripture tells me not to harbor bitterness, so I want to bring it directly to you, clear the air, and find a way forward.” (Both Matthew 5 and Ephesians 4 call us toward reconciliation. We must not pick up the spirit of offense again especially after we have laid it down).
When Peter drew his sword and cut off the soldier’s ear, Jesus immediately stopped him…and then healed the man who had come to arrest Him (Luke 22:50–51). When the Pharisees dragged the woman caught in adultery before Jesus, He was not controlled by their shouting, accusations, or hidden motives. He quietly wrote in the dirt and said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first” (John 8:7). Calm. Powerful. Convicting. Self Control, Wise.
What anger are you still carrying past its expiration date? Is your anger trying to restore what is right…
or punish the person who wounded you?
Being loud is not the same as being strong. Retaliation is not victory. Jesus showed us another way: Put down the sword, heal the wounded ear, release the stone, speak the truth in love, and close the door before anger moves in. You may have every reason to be angry…but through the power of the Holy Spirit, anger does not have to become the reason you destroy something God still wants to redeem. Confront that spirit within…cast it out in Jesus name. Talk to them…humbly and in love AND regardless of how the other side receives your approach…trust God. Don’t let it cause you to pick up that spirit of offense again.
By His blood you are healed and restored.
Prayer: Father, reveal any anger I have buried, excused, or allowed to occupy my heart. Give me the courage to confront what must be confronted, the humility to release what must be forgiven, and the wisdom to know the difference. Holy Spirit, control my words, heal my wounds, and help me respond like Jesus. Amen.
Thank you for spending these few minutes with me today. My prayer is that these devotionals don’t simply give you something to think about, but draw you into a deeper love for Jesus Christ and His community.
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