I’ve lucked out with the last two “Gracious Wife” posts…. I’ve been able to write them with minimal conviction, because I tend to not be too sarcastic or nagging toward my husband. This post, however, I’ve been dreading, mainly because it hits home for me… I don’t want to write it, because it’s going to hurt. God is going to teach me as I write, and the conviction is, of course, not going to be fun. I will be better for it by the end, but this process will be quite painful. But hey, as my husband said to me earlier, if I had it all together, I wouldn’t be “striving”, would I? 
So… on to writing about the Angry Wife… Now, I don’t normally see myself as an angry person. I’m actually a pretty upbeat person, but anger (in its various forms) too often gets a hold of me.
First, let’s look at a definition of anger, because you may be surprised to see that you, too, may fall under this category. Read it a few times, just in case you miss part of it the first time:
anger, n. - a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance; a feeling aroused by being offended; belligerence aroused by a real or supposed wrong; a violent, bitter feeling (against someone or something); resentment; irritation; annoyance; huffiness; indignation. (from thefreedictionary.com
Anger expresses itself differently in different people as well. Some will explode in rage, yelling, screaming, or even becoming physically violent. Others will show their anger in quieter forms, such as using sarcasm or the “silent treatment.” Still others may choose to withdraw, and keep their anger to themselves, resulting in depression or neglect of the home.
I recently realized that anger was an issue for me, when I would become irritated at something Jason would say or do (or not do)… notice the above definition, where it says that anger is caused by a “real or supposed” offense. Most of my anger issues had nothing to do with Jason… instead, the cause was something that I made up in my own mind.
I believe that, in marriage, that is often the case. Now, I’m not saying that all our husbands are perfect and that we are always at fault (it may often be the reverse!) …. but I know that my own heart needs to be searched before I can lay the blame on my husband.
I’m not going to go into the damage that anger can do in a marriage…. I think we have seen enough of its effects, either in our own marriages, others around us, or on the news. Even the Bible talks about the strife an angry word can cause. (If you want to read more verses on anger, click here) What I do want to talk about is the source of anger. Where does it come from? How does a perfectly normal conversation end in a fight (or tears, or a slamming door)?
Here is a list of common causes of anger in marriages… be honest, and see if any of these apply to you:
- Selfishness
- The need to control
- Unjust hurts/disappointments with your husband
- Unjust hurts/disappointments with parents
- Loneliness/sadness from any life stage
- Hurts with in-laws
- Fear and worries
- Hurts in earlier dating, sibling or peer relationships
- Insecurities/lack of confidence
- Excessive sense of responsibility/burdens
- Financial and other worries
- Inappropriate expectations
- Conflicts in children, particularly selfishness
- Loss of trust
- Lack of sleep
- Medical illnesses
- Alcohol and drugs
- Work conflicts
- Excessive television/movie/sports watching
- Unemploymen
- Jealousy
- Guilt
- Post abortion conflict
(List adapted from The Institute for Marital Healing - Click Here for more information)
Prayerfully look over this list, and ask God to reveal to you areas in your marriage that need to be worked on, things that need to change. Satan wants to destroy our marriages. He prowls around, looking to steal, kill, and destroy all that is good. If he can use anger to it, he will!!
Ephesians 4:26-27 says, “‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Many people, when giving marital advice, will quote the part about not letting the sun go down on your anger. Great advice… simply because when you keep anger inside, it allows a bitter root to take hold in your heart, thus giving Satan an opportunity to lead you into sin.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to start a brawl right before bed… but if there’s an issue, it’s best to clear the air rather than have it fester in your heart. After all, it’s going to eventually come out - wouldn’t it be best to discuss it BEFORE it has time to take root and grow into something ugly? Once that ugliness and sin has taken root, it is what will come out when you speak. Is there anger, bitterness, and resentment stored up? That’s what will come out of you - in your words, in your attitude, and in your actions. (Matthew 15:18-19)
So what do we do? How do we get rid of our anger? Well, in addition to prayer… let’s see what the Bible has to say!
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19-20
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32
So, what do we do? Here are our takeaways from these passages:
- Be quick to listen. Don’t jump to conclusions about your husband or the circumstances making you angry. Listen to what your husband is saying, and hear out his whole side of the story.
- Be slow to speak. Don’t say the first thing that is on your mind - it’s usually full of emotion and hurt, and can be taken wrong, even if you don’t think you meant it to be hurtful!
- Be slow to become angry. This takes work and prayer, but don’t get on the defensive as soon as your husband opens his mouth. Don’t work yourself up into anger. Pray, and try to remain calm. See if the situation actually warrants your anger (in most cases, it won’t!).
- LOVE your husband, God’s way! Study 1 Corinthians 13, and strive to love the way God wants us to love. It is the KEY to being a gracious wife!
- Keep no record of wrongs. Do not hold grudges! Stop bringing up past hurts and grievances when you fight… it will just make matters worse. Pray for God to help you forgive AND forget.
- Be kind. Thinking of an angry retort? Say something kind instead…. it may shock your husband, AND diffuse the anger at the same time. (Proverbs 15:1)
- Be compassionate. Your husband may be going through a rough time emotionally, physically, or spiritually. There may be a deeper cause to actions you think are wrong. Take time to find out what’s wrong, pray for him, and show him compassion - it, too, has the power to diffuse anger.
- Forgive, just as Christ forgave you. Christ forgave us while we were still sinners. Don’t wait for your husband to become perfect in order for you to show him forgiveness, and don’t wait for his apology to come first. Forgiveness must first come from your heart, to prevent sin from taking root.
Above all, let’s remember what we’re striving for - to be a wife after God’s own heart. Psalm 145:8 shows us God’s heart in this matter:
The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
Isn’t that something worth striving for? I know that I will be taking these verses and striving to apply them in my life. I don’t want to be an angry wife. I don’t want Satan to have any footholds in my life. Strive with me… and let me know how your journey is going!! Leave any comments, questions, prayer requests, or praise reports below!
Keep on striving,
Heather
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Hi Heather
Great post, and great perspectives.
Marriages are comprised of human beings, and we know what being human
is all about.
I love how you said to search my own heart first. I am not responsible for anything that another person says or does. I am responsible for how things affect me.
If I am not taking care of myself and am allowing things to build up on me, I will have an excess of negativity to respond to something that my other half says or does.
Yes, marriage is about giving and compromise. It is also about 2 healthy people. If you don’t take care of yourself as you deserve, sooner or later, you won’t be able to bring your best to your relationship.
Thank you for sharing your gift with us.
God bless.
Mark Semple CCC
September 30th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Mark,
You are so right about having to be healthy! Since writing this post, I have been so much more aware of my anger - and the fact that I need the Holy Spirit to truly change me! I’ve been focusing more on my own spiritual health… and am now truly empowered to change!
October 24th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Hi, Heather! I just found this website today, and I want to THANK YOU for your ministry! It is SUCH an encouragement to me to see another woman my age, in a very familiar struggle. I am ANGRIEST and MEANEST toward my husband, my best friend, my God-given GODLY leader. It amazes me how strong of a hold my sin nature has on me. I lose all control when I’m angry. A member of my church shared with me once his struggle with anger, and his emergence from that struggle…I know God is working on me, but I do hate that my personality has such a DIFFICULT flaw to fix! Anyway, I plan on contacting that friend and his wife and sitting down with both of them to discuss practical things I can do to see God bring me thru this. My lack of self discipline and self control is wreaking havoc on my marriage, and I’m desperate to see God change me. You don’t know the encouragement that you’ve been to me today. Sometimes, it’s easy to feel like I’m the only Christian in the world who deals with this. I spent some MUCH NEEDED time in prayer today, and God brought three specific things to mind that I said I forgave my husband for (and I really intended forgiveness), but I find them coming to mind again and again. Evidently, those memories grew into bitterness, and look at the hayday Satan is having with that! Thanks for your prayer and KEEP ON STRIVING!
January 20th, 2010 at 1:01 am
I want to say that this was me! No! This IS me! I am angry! Bitter etc…..I want to be that supporting wife but I DO have a past that entraps me and NO my husband sometimes is not compassionate about my hurts but I want to get past all that and love him the way God wants me to but it is sooooooooo hard. I find myself contemplating dark things not too much caring about my present state and i have children and i don’t EVER want them to experience the emptiness I feel inside. I don’t know you but I believe in the power of prayer. My husband as we speak is saying he will just leave me and the kids alone because he is bringing us down but that is not so. I have experienced divorce once and will never do it again. It will have to be forced. I will not feel that pain again. I love my husband dearly and never think of letting him go but he constantly leaves and says I don’t listen and I am ungrateful but if he only could feel in his heart how grateful I am God gave him to me after everything I been through. there have been a lot of things and pain that went on in our marriage but through it all we manage to smile through it. But those days come that wipes out every good thing and I don’t like that feeling. Please Please Pray ALL who reads this. Remember Bobby & Tanara in your prays.
January 25th, 2010 at 3:36 am
Hi Tanara, this is Pam from Kampala Uganda AFRICA. I am a young married, married at 22 to a 27yr old. My first year as a married was the most painful period of my entire life, dont know how many tears The good Lord allowed me to cry, but in my second year, I have landed on a book: Fascinating Womanhood, by HELLEN Andelin, it has practically changed my marriage, i WAS AS DESPERATE AS U SOUND NOW, but I have discovered one thing, prayer and action go together as components of the faith required to move our Heavenly Father to Help us. Read that book, ask God an opportunity to make yo marriage work and He will give it to u, please send me your e-mail address, I want to send u that book online. May God help u out. Love u in Christ.
January 25th, 2010 at 3:40 am
Also, please read T.D Jakes’ The Lady, Her Lover and Her Lord, u will find the much needed knowledge to turn around your life, including your marriage, remember, God loves u so much that He rather died than have u die eternally, hope u have accepted Christ in your, life, It is the best thing u can ever do for yourself, I promise u that, am not intent on changing u than I am on helping u out, HE is the only way to lasting JOY AND HAPPINESS IN YOUR LIFE AND FOR ETERNITY. ciao
January 25th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
I am a newlywed in need of wisdom and guidance in my new journey with this wonderful new man at my side. I have read through your articles and almost began to cry in relief that there are others who feels as I do, that just maybe it doesnt make me a weak willed woman to want to submit to my husbands will and believe in him and be the best wife and partner i can. I want this more that anything. In my family, this type of role is not what would be ideal or hoped for for a woman. Your wisdom and experience, as well as the realization that there are many others who feel this way has given me hope and brought me a newfound sense of peace. I, too, struggle with anger, and my impulsive actions caused by anger have made me ashamed more times than I can count. I was not raised with any sort of religion and am unfamiliar with Christian beliefs, but I so much desire the kind of advice and wisdom I see here. Thank You!
January 28th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Hi Christine, let me tell u something small about Christianity, and Jesus.
Accepting Him as Lord and Savior is the best gift u can ever give your self. Am not trying to convert you, but am offering an opportunity for u to have eternal life, and a life of victory over any and every thing in your life. He is the way, the truth and the Life, No one comes unto the Father unless He goes through Jesus. hE IS THE Answer for the world Today, He is the beginning and the End, the author and the finisher of our salvation, The GREAT IAM, For Him, through Him and by Him were all things created, to give Him glory and Praise, He is the Only One worthy of Worship and Praise, Beside Him there is no other God. He gives peace, joy, forgiveness, Heals physical, spiritual and Heart Ailments, What Doesnt He do? Nothing!!!!!!!!!!!
In Jeremiah 32:27 HE says this of Himself, I AM THE GOD OF ALL FLESH, IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR ME?
Please accept Him into your life, because without Him, u have no power to overcome any thing Satan throws to u, unless the mercy of God prevails, but with Him, u can overcome these:
Anger
Bitterness
Selfishness
Evil Thoughts
Disrespect
Malice
Slander
Poverty of the heart and of the riches of this world
EVIL FOREBODING
WITCHCRAFT
PLUS ANY EVIL THING IN THIS WORLD!
With Jesus, u can be protected from those eveil things and u become un able to indulge in them.
Please reply and let me know what u think.
Pam Biryomumaisho
Kampala, Uganda, East Africa
Go to a christian church, one that believes and lives the bible, u will find answers, and pray as well, God will direct u as well when u do that.