Better Husbands
Better Fathers
Better Followers of Jesus
Better Men
- Nate Whitson -
I wanted to beat the crap out of that guy!
Alright, well, that may be a little dramatic, but I was definitely ticked off and that's 100% how I felt!
I was driving my wife's van to work yesterday, and on my way home it felt like one of the tires was a little flat (the check engine light told me that was true).
So, I was driving just below the speed limit and much slower than the rest of traffic just to be safe.
Except for this other car that was right in front of me.
I pulled up behind it - it was an older, grey Lincoln sedan - and I was still going just under 70 mph (the posted speed limit) and he was, obviously, going even slower.
Next thing I know he rolls down his window and is giving me the middle finger and shaking his hand at me like I just insulted his mother.
I had no idea why! Seriously.
He gets over to the right lane eventually and I'm pretty ticked at this ridiculousness and so I pull up next to him in the passing lane to make sure I can make eye contact with him and put my hands up like, "What the heck is your problem!?".
Then I calmly prayed for him. Wished him well. And checked my spirit for anger within me.
Ok - not really! I did NONE of that!
Instead, I got in behind him again just to tick him off, and stayed close behind him and thought of following him until he pulled over or got off the highway so I could give him a piece of my mind.
Have you ever experienced something like that?
Ever find yourself in the middle of a situation that popped up out of nowhere and discovered something ugly about yourself?
That's exactly what happened to me yesterday.
I went home in a huff and told my family right away what an idiot that guy was and how unjustified he was in his anger toward me and I let them know how lucky he was that I am such a solid Christian dude - otherwise, I'd have punched him in the face if I could've!
Ummm.....do you see any problems here??
It wasn't until the next day that I was driving back to work and I found myself getting worked up again about another "stupid driver" that God whispered something to me that maybe you need to hear today too:
"Be very careful, Nate."
I know - you're name's not Nate - but the message may be the same for you as it was for me.
👉🏻 Be very careful of that unbridled anger inside of you. 👈🏻
I heard that message clearly from the Lord and it really slowed me down.
- Why do I get ticked off so quickly?
- Where is that coming from?
- What's going on inside of me that can derail me so quickly?
I hear this same story over and over from other men, too.
Anger is just below the surface and it so easily explodes out of us.
If that's you, then I want to encourage (or warn) you:
Be very careful with that anger inside of you.
As James 1:20 says (my paraphrase), "The anger inside of you won't produce the right kind of life that God has for you."
Be careful, my friend. I'm praying for you today.
Nate
P.S.
Do you have a road rage story like this?
Reply to this email and let me know your story and how you handle situations like that (I clearly need some help!).
If you're struggling to control your anger or other internal check engine lights - check out this program I created to help men get closer to Jesus and be better men.
