The Daily: Tuesday January 13, 2026

I was enraged when I heard these complaints and stories. After some thought, I approached the officials and said, “I charge you with exacting usurious interest rates to your Jewish sisters and brothers.” Then I called together an assembly to deal with them...
Nehemiah 5:6-8

(Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation)

Anger gets a bad reputation in Christian circles, but Nehemiah's story shows us that anger can be a powerful force for good when it's directed properly. When Nehemiah heard about the exploitation happening in his community, he didn't respond with a calm, measured statement. He became angry - really angry. But here's what's remarkable: Nehemiah didn't let his anger control him or lead him to make rash decisions. Instead, his reactive anger transformed into something much more powerful - moral clarity. His emotion didn't cloud his judgment; it sharpened his focus on what needed to be done.

There's a difference between anger that destroys and anger that builds. Destructive anger lashes out, blames others, and seeks revenge. But constructive anger - the kind Nehemiah experienced - sees injustice clearly and channels that energy into meaningful action. It's the kind of anger that says, 'This is wrong, and I'm going to do something about it.' This transformation from reactive emotion to focused determination is crucial for anyone who wants to make a difference. We live in a world full of injustice, and if we care at all, we're going to feel angry sometimes. The question is: what will we do with that anger? Nehemiah shows us that righteous anger can become a catalyst for positive change when we allow it to clarify our values and motivate our actions. Instead of being consumed by frustration, we can let our anger illuminate what matters most and fuel our commitment to making things better. The key is learning to pause between feeling angry and taking action - using that space to let our anger mature into wisdom and our emotion transform into effective strategy.

Reflection
How can you channel your anger about injustice or problems you see into constructive action rather than destructive reaction?

Prayer
God, when I encounter injustice and feel angry, help me to channel that emotion into clarity and action. Transform my reactive anger into the kind of moral determination that leads to positive change. Guide me to respond with both passion and wisdom. Amen.