A Short Fuse

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man holds it in check.

Proverbs 29:11 CSB

 Growing up with a "short fuse" on my dad's Scotch-Irish side, I quickly learned to blame my quick temper on my family background. For a long time, it was my easy excuse. But eventually, a deeper conviction set in: this wasn't just genetics; it was impatience and anger, plain and simple.

I'm still on this journey, but I've seen God steadily work to cool my hot temper. The wisdom of an unknown author once hit me hard: "The wind of anger blows out the lamp of intelligence." How true is that? Proverbs 29:11 echoes it perfectly: A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man holds it in check.

It's clear to me now that impatience and anger often sprout from self-focus. That's another tough truth to swallow. But the transformation is undeniable when I choose patience. Instead of snapping back, zipping my lip and giving someone the benefit of the doubt, even saying, "I must have misunderstood," completely changes the outcome.

One year recently, I made it a point to memorize and seek to live by Psalm 141:3: Lord set up a guard for my mouth. Keep watch at the door of my lips. And James 1:19-20 has become a cornerstone: Brother, take note of this, everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires.

I've got a long way to go, but I’m making progress. How about you? Is this a struggle you share? Let's stop blaming our DNA and start calling it what it is: sin and selfishness. Maybe then we'll find the motivation to truly pray for victory over our short fuses.

Lord, why is it so easy to immediately respond in anger when things don’t go my way? Help me hold my tongue and anger as I allow You to guide my heart toward patience and love.

Chris Adams