By Danielle Metz

I was wronged by someone once, and in my hurt I became very angry. It occupied my thoughts day and night to the point that I walked in anxiety and frustration all the time. I became a captive to anger. 

I was upset at this person because I wanted an apology. I thought I deserved one. But God began to speak to my heart, and he showed me that he wanted us to reconcile our differences, no matter what had been done, so that he could get rid of the resentment I was holding onto. He wanted me to pour out mercy and compassion, yet all I had been pouring out was bitterness and entitlement. 

Obedience Takes Humility

James 1:19-22 speaks to this issue: “human anger does not produce the right-eousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” 

We must humbly accept God’s Word and then do what it says. Humility is what I was lacking in my anger, and because of it I was not able to see God’s plan for me or for the strained relationship.

Obedience Gives Freedom

When I let my guard down, I saw that God actually wanted the opposite of what I thought should happen. He wanted me to apologize instead. Even though it was uncomfortable for me, God showed me that my pride and my reputation didn’t matter. He showed me that looking like a fool to others didn’t matter. But focusing on eternity and focusing on Christ do matter. 

Through God changing me and showing me how I had contributed to the brokenness, that relationship has been reconciled. What I thought was broken, he restored. Do not just listen to the Word, do what it says—and experience true freedom.

Danielle Metz lives in Harrison, Ohio, with her husband, Mike, and son, Gabriel. She is a stay-at-home mother who blogs and cartoons about the humorous and not-so-humorous parts of being a parent.