When a recent phone call with a family member became fraught with anger toward other family members, I remained calm and peaceful. But there was a time when I might have handled this situation much differently. In the past I would have gotten angry and “down in the weeds” about who was right or wrong. This time, I prayed instead, asking God how I could help this relative. Gentle, loving answers came that I never would have thought of by myself. I shared one of the ideas, and the phone call ended peacefully, blessing the individual and me.

Anger seems to have the power to shake us up, arguing that it is a way to get people’s attention and control a situation. But anger is actually a loss of control, preventing one from thinking clearly—and often compromising that ability for others, too. While anger might feel justified and even satisfying, the aftertaste is ultimately bitterness, sadness, and regret.

Prayer has the power to transform the way I think about myself and others.