Listening To God When You're Angry

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. - James 1:19

Today’s key verse is one I’ve heard more times than I can count throughout my lifetime. “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” I’ve heard these words in sermons and podcasts. I’ve read them in Bible studies and devotionals and Instagram posts. It’s a very popular verse. But typically, when this verse has come up in my journey of following Jesus, it’s always been applied to the way I should treat other people.

We should be quick to listen to others rather than always being the first ones to talk. And we should be patient with people rather than letting our anger and our tempers get the best of us.

And while I 100% agree with that application, I don’t think that’s the only way we can apply that verse.

As I was reading through the first chapter of James a couple of weeks ago and came across James 1:19 once again, the Holy Spirit brought something to my attention. He made me consider something I’d never considered before. It’s like He whispered to my heart and said,

“Kristen, what would it look like for you to apply this verse in your relationship with Me?”

What a question.

It’s a question I’ve thought a lot about the last couple of weeks, and it’s a question I want to pose to you as well.

What would it look like for us to apply James 1:19 to our relationship with Jesus?

What would it look like for us to be quick to listen to the Holy Spirit?

What would it look like for us to be still before the Lord rather than always having to be the one doing all the talking?

And what would it look like for us to be patient with God and trust Him, rather than getting angry and frustrated with Him when we don’t get our way?

I think it’s so easy for us to try to monopolize the conversations we have with God. But we realize that doesn’t work well in our relationships on earth, so why do we think it’s different with God?

Have you ever had someone ask you a question or seek your advice, but they won’t stop talking long enough for you to answer them? It’s frustrating, isn’t it? Of course it is. Thankfully, the Lord isn’t as easily frustrated and angered as we are, but I’m sure He wants so badly to answer us and speak to us if we would just be quiet long enough to create the space to hear from Him.

So as you carve out time to spend with your Heavenly Father this week, I hope you’ll keep today’s key verse in the front of your mind. I pray that you will be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry in your time with the Lord. May your heart default to humility and trust, rather than pride and frustration, so that you may seek to understand what it is the Lord wants to make known to you.

You might just be surprised at what He has to say if you’ll sit quietly with Him.