Helping you navigate the tension between faith & mental health by looking at a tension point, a talking point and a truth to ponder.

Tension Point

"I try and suppress my anger, because it feels like such an un-Christian emotion. But I feel like I’m about to explode 😡"

Talking Point

Anger. It just feels like such an un-Christian emotion, doesn’t it?! One that we often categorise alongside other behaviours that we consider to be ‘sinful’, or not what God intended. But anger itself isn’t a sin—it’s a natural human emotion. Ephesians 4:26 says, “In your anger do not sin.” That means feeling anger isn’t the problem; it’s what we do with it that matters.

When handled well, anger can actually help us recognise injustice, set healthy boundaries, and even motivate positive change. But if suppressed and not listened to anger can materialise in unexpected ways. When we don’t allow ourselves to express and process our anger, it can become internalised and cause a lot of damage beneath the surface. It can manifest as self-criticism, bitterness, resentment or self-hatred.

But we tend not to think about the internal consequences of suppressed anger. And maybe that is because, somewhere along the line, we’ve come to believe that suppressing it is actually the right thing to do. Anger as an emotion can be incredibly destructive if we let it take over, and many reading this will have been on the receiving end of unhealthy and unresolved anger.

So, how do we balance these things, and handle anger in a way that aligns with our faith?

Truth to Ponder

It’s important that we are honest about our anger. Pay attention to why this emotion is surfacing for us – what are the underlying values, beliefs or circumstances we’ve held – because understanding what is behind the raw emotion is key to it being a healthy part of our emotional tool box.

Anger is a big issue that often has complex roots. But here are a few ways in which we can help find the right balance between being aware of our anger, but not letting it become destructive:

First, pausing before reacting is key. Count to ten, take a deep breath, or step away from the situation. Proverbs 29:11 says, “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.” Giving yourself a moment to process your emotions can prevent you from saying or doing something you’ll regret. Physical activity—like taking a walk, exercising, or even writing down your thoughts—can also help release that built-up tension in a healthy way. This will help you to not just ‘feel’ the anger, but begin to understand the anger. To unpack the ‘why’ behind anger, you may find it helps you to speak to a counsellor, or study the ‘Keys to Freedom' workbook.

Prayer and reflection can play a huge role, too. Bringing your anger to God—whether through prayer, journaling, or simply sitting in silence—allows you to process it with His guidance. Psalm 10 is a great biblical example of how to do this.

Many find that praying for the person who hurt them (even when it’s the last thing they want to do) helps shift their perspective. Forgiveness doesn’t mean excusing bad behaviour, but it does free you from the burden of resentment. For some hurts though, this is an incredibly difficult thing to consider.

At the end of the day, anger is part of being human. So it's ok to feel anger, but it doesn’t have to control us. By recognising our triggers, responding with wisdom, and leaning into our faith, we can learn to express anger in a way that leads to healing rather than harm. Instead of seeing anger as something to be ashamed of, we can use it as an opportunity to grow, set boundaries, and seek God’s peace in the midst of it all.