In II Kings 5:1 we learn that the king of Syria had great admiration for Naaman, commander of his army, but though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy. Intervening circumstances led him to the prophet Elisha, who told him to go dip himself in the Jordan river seven times and he would be healed. But Naaman became angry and stalked away in a huff; thinking “That prophet didn’t even come out to greet me and heal my leprosy…and the Jordan?! We’ve cleaner and prettier rivers back home!” Consider these effective ways to temper frustrations.
Hold on just a minute, take a breath, and think about it. Take a deep breath in, count to at least four and exhale slowly. Repeat a few times, adding a higher number each time. This will calm the nervous system and give you time to think. Time often softens reactions and increases control, thus, a great remedy for anger is delay, because patience strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, subdues pride, and bridles the tongue.
Walk away and relax your body (literally). If possible, remove yourself from the immediate situation briefly. Physical distance reduces the emotional heat. Otherwise, visualize a peaceful scene – imagine a calming place: beach, forest, mountains (“He leads me beside still waters”). Such a quick mental escape can reduce the tension in short order. You might also try using a “reset phrase”: “I need to stay calm, cool, and collected,” or “This too shall pass.” This can act as a mental ‘circuit breaker’…stopping the flow of “negative current.”
“Our temper is a funny thing. We can’t get rid of it by losing it!”
“The best cure for a short temper is a lengthy prayer.”
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all those who lost their temper could find it again?”
– John Driggers, Spiritual Advisor for Myers-Davis (6/9/2025, V7#23)
