I remember how this feels. I never really became angry often untilI I had children and faced this issue. I remember how frustrated and upset I would get when I could not reason with one of my children and they were not controlling their emotions. I often had to leave the room so that I would not respond in anger.
Thoughts for Mom:
- Try to be calm and speak in a controlled manner. “For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (John 1:20).
- If your children cannot control themselves, have them go to their room until they calm down. Do not answer them in the way that they are talking with you. “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself” (Proverbs 26:4).
- Try to speak objectively with them and draw out why they are responding the way they are. “…let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19).
- Think about how God responds to us when we don’t obey right away or complain about something we are asked to do. Ask God to help you to show your children the same grace that God has shown you. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
How to Pray Through This:
Verse: “To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 28:16).
Prayer: Father, please open my child’s eyes, and draw my them into a relationship with Christ to become totally yielded to You.
Verse: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Prayer: Father, as my child matures I pray they will learn to control their emotions and choose not to fear anything but You.
Verse: “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9).
Prayer: Father, help my child will learn to be patient and not be quickly provoked.
Verse: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Hebrews 13:17).
Prayer: Father, I pray that my child will learn to be submissive to authority.
