Hey, Carpool Crew. I'm Pastor Justin. Maybe you're sitting at the table having breakfast or just relaxing on the couch before school. I'm so glad you're here. So do you know that feeling when you get so mad so fast that it kind of scares you? Well, I've been there before, and I'm sure you have, too. So let's jump into that one thing I want you to remember for the ride. Say, "I'm mad," before you blow. Listen to this from Ephesians chapter four, verse 26. "Be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger." Now, here's what's going on. Paul is writing to a church full of regular people just like you and me, and look at the first two words. "Be angry." He doesn't say never get mad. Getting mad isn't a sin. Everyone gets mad, and some things should make you mad. What he does say is, "Be angry and do not sin." That means there is a space between feeling mad about something and doing something wrong with it, and that space is where everything gets decided. Then he adds one more thing: "Don't let the sun go down on your anger." Don't carry it to bed with you. Deal with it today. Here's what happens. Your little brother or sister knocks over the thing that you've been building for an hour. It's in pieces on the floor, and the mad comes up fast. Your hands are clenched, and you got about four seconds before something happens that you can't take back. That four seconds is the space Paul is talking about. You can't stop the mad from showing up. You can decide what comes out of you in that moment. Maybe it's your brother or sister. Maybe it's a kid who cheated at recess during football or kickball. Maybe it's losing a game at your homeschool co-op or getting blamed for something you didn't do at home. Hey, this week, if any of those things happen, here's something you could try. When the mad comes up, say it out loud while it's happening. Really simple. "I'm really mad. I need a minute." My son does this so good. When he gets angry or he's upset, he goes to his room, closes the door, he doesn't slam it, and he takes a couple minutes alone to cool off. He is so wise about how to use that in-between time from getting angry and getting mad to doing something that he probably wouldn't wanna do. He does exactly what Paul says, so he doesn't sin. You can do that, too. Just say, "I got really mad today." And here's the thing. Later in bed, you can say, "I got really mad today, God. Help me with it." Don't let the sun go down on your anger. If you have to have a conversation with someone, if you have to talk to a sibling or a parent, or if you just have to talk to your parent about it before you go to school the next day, that is totally fine, and you should do it. Hey, let's go back to the one thing I wanted you to remember for the ride. Say, "I'm mad," before you blow. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, if you've been liking this podcast, would you take 30 seconds and leave a rating or a review on Apple or Spotify? It really helps other families discover the podcast, too. Before you go, let's answer this question together. The next time you get mad, what should you do to make sure you don't fall into sin like Paul was talking about? I'll see you tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus.
