The apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:26 – “In your anger, do not sin.” I wonder how much better life would be if we followed Paul’s counsel here?

Anger is a tricky emotion. Some well-meaning people have taught us to avoid it at all costs… that the emotion itself is morally wrong. In reality… anger is neutral… it’s what we do with anger that matters. Here are 3 ways to use it to your advantage:

Harness anger’s energy
When you get angry, your heart rate and blood pressure increase, along with your adrenaline levels. Anger’s force… if directed at a problem… can be a good thing. In 1981, John Walsh’s son Adam was kidnapped and brutally murdered. His family harnessed the energy created by their understandable outrage… and from it came the TV show, America’s Most Wanted. They harnessed anger’s energy to put bad guys behind bars. And later… they used it to push through Congress the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. George W. Bush signed the Act into law on July 27, 2006.

Home in on anger’s exposure
Anger is like a metal detector. It can expose issues buried underground that need addressing… problems that keep fueling your rage. Anger can detect an over-committed calendar. Or unresolved difficulties from your past. If you allow anger to be your early-warning system, it can become your ally.

Handle anger’s expression
The goal in expressing anger is assertiveness. Often our response to anger is either aggression or passivity. Foul language, screaming, or swinging your fists are examples of aggression. Holding a grudge is an example of passivity. Both of these responses are harmful. Assertiveness is simply respecting yourself enough to tell someone kindly but firmly how their bad behavior is negatively affecting you. Assertiveness protects you, and gives the offender an opportunity to grow up.

Anger doesn’t have to be a negative force in our life. We can unleash its power by leveraging the energy it creates for productive pursuits… by allowing it to expose emotional grubs buried beneath the surface that fuel our rage… and by expressing it assertively so we can stay mentally and emotionally fit.