Unfortunately, this last week in particular, I and my children have seen incontrovertible evidence that (at least for me), stress and yelling seem to have a direct relationship. When stress increases, the volume and frequency of my yelling increases as well.
So this weekend, I asked a group of godly women to exhort me in regard to yelling. I’ve tried self-shaming; I’ve tried behavior modification; I’ve tried visual reminders…
I knew something needed to change.
That “something” was my heart and mind. You see… I was not seeing it as sin; instead I was justifying it in my mind. My justifications went like this:
- “I don’t yell all the time; it’s happening because I’m stressed out.”
- “They know I’m stressed, they know this isn’t normal, and they know that I love them.”
- “It’s not THAT bad. I’m not… (cursing at them, hitting them, fill in the blank).”
- “I’m yelling TO them, not yelling AT them (not calling them names, etc.).”
- “Yelling was commonplace in my home when I was growing up.”
- “Yelling is partly cultural and personality-based” (yes, I actually told myself this). “Italians & Greeks are louder families than others… so maybe this is just a loud thing and not a SIN thing.”
I thought back about 8-9 years, to the moment when I first yelled at our children, (in a very stressful time, incidentally), and I remember thinking, “I won’t always feel so frustrated. He won’t grow up with a yelling mom. I just yell in rare circumstances, when I’m pushed to my limits.”
But guess what? I’m still yelling.
Surprise, surprise.
(Let this be a warning to you, young mom with one toddler who just started yelling: SIN DOESN’T KILL ITSELF. THESE THINGS DON’T JUST IMPROVE ON THEIR OWN. STOP THIS THING NOW BEFORE YOU WAKE UP TO IT WITH A WONDERFUL, WOUNDED ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD STARING BACK AT YOU.)
Well, my friends (who I so DESPERATELY NEEDED to square with me) squared with me. Here’s what they told me:
- “Is yelling respectful? Does yelling show honor to God or His image bearers? Does yelling pass the Ephesians 4:29 test? Does yelling glorify God?” ~LearningByEar
- Ephesians 4:29 says: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but ONLY such as is GOOD FOR BUILDING UP, as fits the situation, that it may GIVE GRACE to those who hear.”
- “I hesitate to blame ‘irritation’ on lack of self-control. Yes, you do need to control yourself, but usually you need to prepare first. You prepare by first of all, making calmness and self-control your top priority, not just at night when you pray before bed but choosing it over and over again all day long. Next, because not losing your temper is now your top priority, you need to rearrange your life to assist you in that goal. That means thinking ahead so you can head off an irritating situation BEFORE it happens. Slowing down, keeping your kids WITH you, cutting out unnecessary activities, simplifying your life, giving your kids direction rather than reacting to their choices, etc., are all things you can do to assist in your goal of developing and keeping to a new level of self-control. It is not a matter of just learning to grit your teeth when things happen. You must make it a continuing priority over and over and you must prepare ahead whenever possible.” ~Elizabeth, mom of 10
- “Yelling is all about the yeller; it’s about pride. You yell because your will isn’t being done on Earth as God’s will is in Heaven” (I borrowed that from Tedd Tripp). ~LearningByEar
- “Yelling is a sin. It’s vicious and horrible and mean and nasty and vindictive. It’s hateful. Seeing it for what it was is what made me finally stop doing it.” ~Laura, mom of 9
- “I think we all know what type of “yelling” is wrong and sinful. Yelling “Johnny NO!!!” as your toddler is about to touch a hot stove is not wrong at all. Yelling at your kids because you are just in the habit of dealing with them that way instead of better ways, is wrong and sinful, period. First, change the way you think. Love good and hate evil. See yelling (or any other lack of self-control) as the sin it is and hate it. Make it a top priority it rid your life of it. Take if off the list of options you use to deal with your children’s misbehavior.” ~Elizabeth
One thing one friend said stood out to me:
- “Galatians 5:19-21 lists fits of rage right there with drunken orgies.”
Here’s the thing: she’s absolutely right.
This is what the verse says: “The acts of the flesh are evident:” (and here’s the list– not in order– but all there):
- sexual immorality
- dissensions
- idolatry
- orgies
- jealousy
- impurity
- drunkenness
- sorcery
- sensuality
- fits of anger
- divisions
- enmity
- envy
“Those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
I mean, seriously.
I would NEVER justify participating in orgies or sorcery. That stuff is straight-up wickedness!
This is a good reminder for why the Word is so important. When I am yelling at my kids, it *IS* a fit of anger, just like what Scripture condemns, right alongside those things I would never do. I am frustrated, embarrassed, feeling disrespected, disobeyed, and yes, I have let them go too far down a path without clear direction. But none of it justifies wickedness.
As a child of God, with the Spirit inside of me, I am FREE not to sin, but I have to walk in that. When I yell, I am NOT walking in the Spirit; I am choosing instead to walk in the flesh.
When I yell, I am throwing an adult-sized temper tantrum with ME and MY DESIRES at the center of the universe.
And that sin- throwing FITS OF ANGER- is a sinful stench to God, and a slap in the face of the risen Christ, in the same way it would be if I was participating in seances and orgies.
Hearing from my friends (praise God for truth-speaking friends!) re-framed this issue for me, in the right biblical perspective. Saturday night, I wrote these quotes and verses on notecards with rainbow-colored-markers (which makes anything more fun, right? Thank you, Costco.), and put them up on my mirror.
Praise God, my husband had the night shift and so I used that time alone, after the kids were in bed to pray, journal, and confess my sin to God.
Sunday morning, when I woke up, I pulled my kids close around the breakfast table and confessed my sin of anger and yelling to them. Not just, “I’m sorry, mommy was wrong,” but a confession of my SIN. I shared with them the verses I just shared with you (albeit, with kid-sized explanations for the tougher, R-rated words).
I told them that when I yell, I am willfully giving in to my flesh & not yielding to God. I am sinning against them and God.
I asked for their prayers, and for their forgiveness. My sweet kids gave both, and hugs and smiles abounded.
And so now, here I am, sharing this with you too. I am sharing for accountability’s sake, and out of a desire to be transparent with and grow alongside you. I am planning to write more, in the coming weeks, about yelling. I want to encourage you, not from a position of one who has my act together in this area, but as a fellow traveler on the road.
I want to shut this sin down. I want to choke it to death so it will no longer rule and reign in my heart in life.
Is this an area where you struggle?
Has yelling become the way (or even a way) you deal with life’s frustrations?
Let’s grow alongside each other and kill this terrible sin that wants to choke joy and life out of our homes.
Images courtesy of imagerymajestic/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Anger is a kind of drunkenness. Once you get going, you are actually enjoying the feeling! You keep on going…you’re looking for more to yell about…it’s an altered state of consciousness. And it’s definitely addictive!
Man, this is so true:
“You keep on going…you’re looking for more to yell about…”
Ugh.
I rarely yell anymore. I don’t have to. They are in high school and 5th grade. They are well trained, they do their chores, help around the house, carry their weight. It was not always like this, they were little and it was a hard season. I don’t have to,yell because of relationship, because I have influence and because I respect them. They respond by doing what needs done, I benefit from relationship when they share their heart with me. I stopped yelling when after 5 years of homeschooling, they all went to school, christian school. Then, after 5 years of financial sacrifice, they are all in public school. And it’s good. The horror stories about public school ate not true, not for us. Sending them to school gives me space, margin for the introvert to recharge. When they come home, I am more able to be there for them. I have time for silence, devos, worship, journaling, reading, self care, and a part time job I love that nurtures who I am so I can be the mom I want to be. I couldn’t thrive by being their all in all as a mom/teacher. I would yell because they got in my way of what I wanted, selfish, I know. All the scriptures that condemned me never made me a better mom, just heaped shame, not useful. I would say it gets easier as they get older, but only if good training is in place and if you manage to stay in relationship. Your mileage may vary, of course.
Interesting, Lisa. You said, “I rarely yell anymore; I don’t have to.” Not picking on you- just jumping off from that statement.
That’s where I want to hone in, in my own heart, is that really as believers in Christ, we are freed FROM sin. We don’t *have* to sin… we aren’t slaves to it. Once we are in Christ, none of us *have* to sin, but we choose to.
That’s where I want to focus, in my own heart. The externals can be adjusted, but ultimately, if my heart is NOT adjusted from this yoke of sin, there will have been no ultimate growth. I’ll just have made life easier for myself, but my heart will not be changed.
Awesome!
Good stuff, Jess! It’s ridiculous how easily we justify our sin, isn’t it?
Ugh! I totally didn’t see it, until I SAW it, and then it was so very ugly to me.
Very well said and thanks for sharing. As a mom of 7 (4 of my own and 3 step-kids), I completely relate. Always asking God to help me be a better mom. Not that I’m a bad one, just saying no matter how good you are there is always room for improvement. Last night, as I was praying with two of my kids, one of the things I prayed for was to change us where we need to be changed. Then to read this from you this morning, touched my heart. Like you, I sometimes yell, not all the time, but I do. Like you, I want to change that. Thank you for sharing such a subject. And yes, lets walk this road of transformation together! I am determined to be better and better and renewed for my kids and family. I an determined for my life to always Glorify God. I know its not possible to always do that, for we all fall short from time to time. However, if we are always trying, then those times will be fewer and His glory will be more!
Thanks, Stephanie. Let’s do it.
The pastor shared a great quote from John Owen about killing sin yesterday-
“Let no man think to kill sin with few, easy, or gentle strokes. He who hath once smitten a serpent, if he follow not on his blow until it be slain, may repent that ever he began the quarrel. And so he who undertakes to deal with sin, and pursues it not constantly to the death.”
He talked about the perseverance it requires to actually choke a thing to death. I want to hold on to this thing and choke it out of my life- not let it creep back in or justify it “because I’m stressed.” Now that I am clear on just how sinful it is, I aim to “make no provision for the flesh.” No excuses. No justifications. No posturing. I want to cut this thing out.
A few more excellent John Owen quotes on the mortification of sin:
“Do you mortify? Do you make it your daily work? Be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.”
“The vigor and power and comfort of our spiritual life depends on our mortification of deeds of the flesh.”
Thanks again for sharing!
I find it very helpful to walk with others going through the same things. I have found that often times, in giving them words of encouragement and speaking the word to them, I often end up talking to myself as well. Amazing how God works like that.
I am with you! I want yelling to have no place in my life, my heart or my mind! I want that sin 100% gone. To be renewed in such ways that words can’t express. Not only do I want it to change my heart, but I pray it spills over onto my children and husband and we have a renewed family unit! That is my prayer of transformation and I pray I lead by example!
Stephanie, YES! to this:
“in giving them words of encouragement and speaking the word to them, I often end up talking to myself as well. Amazing how God works like that.”
Thank you so much for this post. God used it to speak to my heart. With my oldest 2 children I was very patient and didn`t had to yell. Later one being in a difficult country and getting 3 more children stressed me and I started yelling at my kids (like my parents did it with me and I never liked it as a child). I realised, that it harmed the relationship I have with the younger ones but I used the excuse of being stressed. Thank you for so clearly explaing the truth about this sin (my pride) and for showing a solution out of it. I appologized this morning in front of my children and I am encouraged to let God work in me to create the change (Philippians 1,5-6)
Praise God, Anne! These sorts of heart changes are only possible with the grace of God. He is so good to reveal our need for Him and then help us to walk in the light and walk in His ways.
Keep repenting; keep turning from this sin! keep choosing to follow God as He works this sin out of having control over you.
Stephanie and I just had this little exchange on FB… I want to share it with everyone- (Her comments are bolded; mine are regular)
Stephanie shared from her devotional:
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. —Romans 12:2
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. —Psalm 105:4
I was praying about being changed where I need to be changed even before I read this last night. Then this morning was your blog! Seems God is definitely speaking to me and my heart/mind.
I am so glad. I feel like this has been a breakthrough for me. I didn’t realize how much I was justifying what is CLEARLY sinful. This has been moment-by-moment this morning… just each time I am tempted to grump or gripe, keeping my attitude & volume in check. Instructing, correcting, teaching, but not allowing myself to go into angry selfish yelling mama mode.
It is something that just becomes part of life sometimes for many people. It definitely has to be a conscious effort to change. It is the things we choose. We can either choose sin or choose the fruit of God. As followers of Christ, we choose to follow Him day in and day out. Same goes for sin, it is a choice. Often times, sin, such as yelling, becomes justified by someone making us mad, not listening, irritating us, and so forth. However, that is just a lie that Satan plants in our heads to hinder us to grow in Christ and keep us from our true blessings. It is a daily choice and with a changed heart, open eyes, and guidance from our Lord and Savior, it will become a sin of the past.
Yes. It is so easy to think, “I only did that because he… I wouldn’t have done it if she hadn’t …”
Exactly, but those are Satan’s lies
It is so important for us to remember that his aim is to steal, kill, and destroy.
Cannot believe you posted this today… I screamed at my kids all morning, ended up in my room crying because I hate being such a beast but I don’t know how to stop!!! And it was all from stress – none of the kids were listening to me or starting in on school and they kept fighting, etc… In the back of my mind, I know that guests are coming tonight and I have myriads of things to do before they come… sigh. I hate the yelling but am unsure how to stop. My poor boy telling me, “Mommy, you don’t have to yell!” makes me so, so sad.
Okay, sorry to spill my guts, but seriously, this was so needed for me today. I am so done with yelling.
Laura,
Hang in there. It’s not through will-power that we will stop. I am seriously meditating on the sinfulness of it– so that it is not just gritting my teeth, but rather that the Spirit of God can convict me and change my heart.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, GENTLENESS, and SELF-CONTROL. When I am a tree, rooted in Christ, drawing from HIM as my source, that will be the fruit my life produces.
The verse above spelled out what the “deeds of the flesh” are. When I act like that, I am drawing my strength from the flesh… it is the source of my actions.
So I am soaking myself in the Word (using an audioBible to help with that today in the midst of busy life), but I am also not losing sight of the sinfulness of my sin.
In the way that I would not let a murderer into my home, with wicked intentions toward me and my children, and sneak around in it, I am keeping my eyes on this murderous, wicked tendency in my life, and not letting it sneak around and gain ground in my home. This– killing this terrible sin– is a top priority for me today.
Last year, a friend and I decided that we’d start to be accountable to each other for our anger at our kids. I mean, isn’t this what guys do to monitor their porn use, and isn’t accountability a huge part of 12-step programs? Well, if anger falls in with drunkenness and sexual immorality, then it stands to reason that it’s something we need an extra boost of help with. We found it was so, so helpful, and we made such headway just knowing that someone else was going to check in. And then life got in the way and we slowly stopped propping each other up…
Anyway, I just thought I would mention it as I found accountability to be extremely helpful in my journey of killing anger. You mentioned being accountable to us, but I like the idea of having a close in-real-life friend to help out too.
Absolutely, Laura. I think that sort of real-life “holding the feet to the fire” can be a wonderful tool of God to shape & refine us.
I read in a book by Randy Alcon that one fit of anger produces as much cholesterol as eating a dozen eggs. One more good reason to stop yelling. Your connecting stress with yelling is very true in my own life… I was never a yelling mom until the last year or so when our stress has been through the roof. I hate it too… my daughter has asked me “Mom, are you angry at me?” when I’m not, I just sound like I am, or look like I am. I will come back and read this again. Thanks, Jess… In it with you!
WOW, interesting. I’ve never heard that! God always is after our GOOD and this is just another way… He knows that fits of anger are evil in and of themselves, but even the results they produce, in our lives, and in others, are not good for us.
Ugh, I know. I can so identify with that: “I’m not, but I sound & look like I am.” I am so ready to rid our home of this.
Jess,
Encouraged by your seriousness towards sin (calling it what it is!) and yet gospel hope and perspective (not by willpower)… we all yell at our kids. We all have arguments with the hubby (some families are louder and some are more passive-aggressive). We all are needy sinners! But, yes, learning to say no to sin and kill sin as God kindly reveals it to us… may grace keep compelling all of us to live for Him in those unseen moments in our homes (He sees!) and in our heads (He knows our thoughts!).. may sin also lead you (us) to long for heaven that much more!!
may grace keep compelling all of us to live for Him in those unseen moments in our homes (He sees!) and in our heads (He knows our thoughts!)
Yes, Jamie, it is startling to think that oftentimes, if we thought even ONE other person was watching us, we would control ourselves. It is functional atheism, then, that we don’t control ourselves when God Himself sees every moment. The truth is that He sees. He knows. And the way we live reveals how we are thinking about Him.
Thankfully, there is grace for when we mess up. Grace alongside the truth of His all-seeing presence.
Thanks for chiming in!
Yes, I’m so thankful for His grace “that is greater than all my sin!”
Hey, on a different note. do you know I quote you every few weeks to my husband – something you said a long time ago that stuck with me about how you try and aim to have all kids under 5 nap until/unless they can show they can make it from naps-bedtime without flipping out from exhaustion. I’m not quoting you exactly… anyway, it’s been helpful counsel to us! We might have “dropped naps” way too early… and my 4 year old still needs at least a short one. Thanks!!
Love,
jamie
I didn’t know that, but yes, that is exactly my rule! You’re right, that it is tempting to drop naps sooner but having that clear attitude guideline makes it very obvious when a child still needs more sleep. I’m glad it’s helped y’all.
YES! This is the biggest sin issue I have going on in my life. It’s so hard to change, and I see how I’ve affected my children, especially my oldest. At eight years old, she can be so short with her siblings. It’s God hanging a mirror in my face. I really pray that my striving, through the aid of the Holy Spirit, will yield better results soon and that I don’t mess my kids up! And the cholesterol comment above, I totally believe it. Mine has gone up!
Lauren- YES God is good to let us SEE the reflection of us in our children. It can feel so painful and humiliating but it shows us what WE need to work on.
I tell our kids I wish I could give them a perfect mama… one that never messes up, never hurts them (even unintentionally), never says or does the wrong thing. Instead, I get to humble myself, apologize to them, develop dependence on God, and it stands as a reminder for us all that all of life– even my imperfection– points to the human need for Jesus. That HE is the only one who can be all that any of us need.
This is such a great post. I can relate with just about every lie you wrote! I’m a yeller. I’ve struggle for a while. I remember that for 2008, I resolved to stop being angry and stop yelling…it was my New Year Resolution…no joke! As I was still working on it a few years later, I started seeing I just “couldn’t” do it and resolve it and change it….cause it was such sin, a heart issue and only the Lord could change my heart. So, slowly, I stopped working and began praying and confessing to my kids and the Lord. The Gospel is real when I fail and also when I don’t fail, cause after years of being unsuccessful…I know if there are any good, non-yelling days, it SO isn’t me! I’ve been encouraged more and more in this fight…but it’s still real for me too often.
Here a couple of additional verses I cling to for help and good reminders that it’s not anger and yelling that are effective: Galataians 6:2, “If anyone (my kids) is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.”
James 1:19-21, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Uprooting Anger by Robert Jones was a super helpful and great Biblical book for me to read in getting a good understanding of my anger and root issues.
I’m still praying and confessing and yelling, but Lord willing fighting to break this sin. I look forward to your other posts on yelling. Thanks for being real, vulnerable, and shooting straight with scripture. I’m exhorted and encouraged to continue fighting this!
This has been a struggle for me since my oldest turned 4. I never imagined I would be “that mom”! I look back over my prayer journals & Bible studies over the years & always see the same exact issue every single time!! I have not grown in this area at all. Very discouraging. I see the negative impact on my children & how they react to chaos & stress the same way as their mother. Not a pretty picture. It has gotten to the point where my 3 children often times dont respond or quit until I do freak out. I have been so convicted lately of the hypocrisy that I am modeling. I quote scripture, teach Bible studies, listen to Christian music,etc, etc….but I am prone to “fits of anger” on a regular basis. God has got to change my heart & I have got to get a handle on this. Thanks for the encouraging blog. It’s good to see that others are struggling through the same thing…it’s easy to get caught up that no one else has this “secret issue” that we all want to keep hidden.
Hi Jess,
I linked to your post via Facebook. You are so right, these attitudes in our hearts truly are wickedness. The Lord has truly freed me from my habit of treating my children so badly and freed my heart to Love like Jesus does. If you’d like to read more about the process I went through, I can recommend a good ebook. “Empowering the Transfer of Moral Values and Faith” by Marilyn Howshall. Blessings to you.
Thanks, Michelle.
I read Mrs. Howshall’s book about homeschooling decisions and it was such a refreshing, and Spirit-led book. I re-read it every couple of years now because it has so much wisdom for LIFE in it, even aside from homeschooling.
I’ll look into that one as well. Thank you!
Anger and yelling is sin…but I do find that something else that has helped me is to remove any temptations that lead me in that direction. For me it is lack of sleep. Obviously though I am accountable if I yell when I am tired. But I try really hard to get to bed on time & turn down invites that keep me out. Another temptation for me to get angry at kids is when I fight with my hubby first (opens door for enemy!). I think God can give us wisdom as well…sometimes we need to sit back and ask ourselves what would help us be stronger in His strength. Thinking of Jesus saying, “Whatever causes us to sin, cut it off!!!” I added the exclamation points, lol…if I homeschool & try to chat on the phone to a friend…if I don’t have a realistic routine for my kids’ age/stages & they fight me back…if I try to clean the whole house while ignoring my kids. You see what I mean? I totally agree with what you’re saying, it’s a heart issue. Just something I’ve found for myself. Thanks for sharing: Rachael @ Diamonds in the Rough (http://www.parentingandhomeschoolinginfaith.com)
Bless you, dear sister! Thank you for your honesty. This is exactly what I needed and Jesus worked through Pinterest (other than the time we waste on that sucker, I think He’s thankful for it for reasons like this). I work at a school and have been praying and trying to just calm down with the sixth graders I work with. With a whopping dose of generational anger/rage/lack of patience sin, thanks dad, it’s so rough for me to deal with their lack of respect. It’s a sin that I want broken desperately. Your post was just what I needed. Worded the way I needed, pointed, convicting, scripture filled, and tools to use to break it. Thank you, Jess. I think this will be a turning point in that area of my life. I owe you, girl. I owe you!
Thanks for being obedient and allowing Jesus to use you. Through this post I know countless lives will be changed.
I had such a problem with yelling with the first five children. James 1:20 was so much help to me. The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. I take that to mean when we are angry, yelling at our kids, they cannot see God. I am in the way. Also being able to get rest helps. I have ten children and life has been incredibly easier. When we are yelling we are also making life much more stressful on them and they don’t learn how to deal with problems effectively. The younger five all love the Lord and are much more patient. Oh, and also learning to smile at them more often and for no reason has helped too. That I got from No Greater Joy ministries.
Thank you so much for this. I have a 17-month-old and am almost seven months preggo with our second. My husband is deployed for seven months, and lately almost every single day I feel like I’m at the end of my rope. My little boy is fun-loving, and naturally curious, but also a typical toddler….throwing food, temper tantrums, getting into everything, etc. It has been so easy for me to justify my SIN. Your post brings tears to my eyes as I realize that is exactly what it is. There is no excuse, and it’s a slap in the face to my Savior, who gives me more and more grace. I am laying it at the foot of the cross tonight and praying for even more grace and patience as the Lord prunes me. Thank you for speaking this truth into my life!
Hang in there, Katie, and fight this fight against sin now, before it becomes a stronghold that is still going on 10, 20, 30 years later. Take it seriously today, and keep a posture of repentance! God really can change your heart and change your behavior as well.
I read your december letter yesterday, and read your new post about yelling… I read this one today and it just striked me, a lot. I have been struggeling with yelling and anger lately. In fact, I have been for a long time, but realized lately that yelling was wrong. I was not putting the word sin on it, now I am.
I was thinking I had not enough tools to discipline my 3 years old son Antoine, or maybe I had done something wrong as a mother. I just happen to SEE by reading this post that it’s more a lack of prayer, of walking in the Spirit everyday and of prevention. Thank you Jess, the truth isn’t easy to handle, but it makes me feel way better than the lies I was telling myself… Feeling like a failure as a mom to remain in my sinful ways was way worst than feeling like an sinful mother who needs to rely on God, on the word and to choose to kill sin as a top priority. Again thank you…
SO true… we are so apt to keep falling into laziness and justifying our anger when we see it as a mere deficiency, or a justifiable way to react to misbehavior. It’s much harder to discipline consistently alongside fighting the fight of sin in our own hearts. But it’s so worth it!
Thank you for coming & taking time to share your thoughts; it is very encouraging to me!!
Such good words, and not only for moms. My husband and I don’t have any kids, but I often found myself stress-yelling at him. Slowly but surely God is transforming me in this area. It isn’t easy, but so satisfying when I realize that I responded calmly about something that would have sent me into a rage a year or so ago.
Thank you for these posts on Anger and Yelling. This has been a struggle for me since….well, I don’t remember is NOT being a struggle. It’s how I was raised. It’s hard to create new habits in areas that go back to your childhood. I see my boys doing these same things and struggling with the same sin and it breaks my heart. I have been working on ideas to “Hold every thought captive” throughout the day.
I’m great at blaming the past and the things I faced as a kid for many things. As you said…let’s call sin what it is. I’m the one who’s accountable for my actions, no matter what anyone else is doing around me. (or did do when I was young)
This is a big struggle for many mamas I know. Being home most of the time with their kiddos and for us, homeschooling, it can be easy to let things slip. I like your thoughts on preparing ahead and stopping situations before they start that will cause us to become angry. I just need to print these articles off the read them over and over!!!
Thanks for being transparent and for the kick in the rear.
THIS MAKES MY HEART SING! 🙂
This is exactly what I’m shooting for when I write… for these words to make their way to the right souls out there so that we can all grow more like Jesus together. Thanks for speaking up and letting me know.
It’s very hard when we grow up with these habits… but you can make real progress– don’t give up. Keep fighting against sin… & I will too.
Awesome. I’m so moved by this. I read it out loud to my husband and 16 year old son. I’m most guilty of yelling at my husband after I’m totally “overwhelmed” and “can’t help it”. Well, would I say that about orgies???? Absolutely not!!!! I’m done with excuses…I’m repenting of my sin, and asking God for help with that. I’m calling it what it is from now on! SIN, disgusting, self serving, flesh driven sin. I prayed for you this morning as I asked God to help me. I will support you in prayer. No more excuses, I’m an introvert, I need my own time and space, I’ve suffered trauma and have been diagnosed with PTSD, and I do not HAVE to SIN! Thank you for helping me see this, it’s so freeing. I know that now that I have repented and asked for help, this SIN IS GOING TO BE WORKED OUT OF MY LIFE. I am confessing my sin, and am going cut out the things in my life that support my sin (as soon as I figure out what they are), I am going to immerse myself in scriptures that apply to my sin, and ask my family to help me and hold me accountable lovingly. I am going to be free!!!
I came across this article. As a mom of 2 a 3 year old and a 4 month old. I am guilty of yelling at my oldest and i assume that would be along the stages of trying to control her. I was on a 3 weeks part of no yelling and then tonight it just ripped. Urgh. Going to definitely repent of this and ask God to help me each day. And i love that Bible verse you put on here. Going to write it on a sticky note pad and put it somewhere like in my bathroom or something.
Also im reading a book called Loving our Kids on Purpose by Danny Silk. I would highly recommend it. It talks about this very same thing. It has helped me alot to be honest. But yes i think that alot of Mothers go through this hard season.
Thank you for sharing this. I stumbled across this post by googling “I’m a Christian and I yelled at my mom”.
So although my scenario is a little different, I still found your words encouraging. I never noticed that fits of anger was on that list of sin, and it’s so true – I’m constantly justifying these fits of anger. I have a very tense relationship with my parents and I snap so easily on them. The worst part is that I feel justified in it. But seeing fits of anger on that list next to drunkenness and orgies does give me perspective. I should be fleeing from my anger the same way I flee from other sins.
Thank you for sharing on this topic. Much appreciated!
Hi Jess, just happened upon your page through pinterest. I am from Northern I reland, so a long way from you!! Imagine my joy on reading about Yelling . I have tried so many times to not do this with my kids when they were younger, I have 1 boy and 6 girls. They are all grown up and married now with their own kids, except for 1 grandson who lives with me and his mum. I find at 12 he is getting a bit difficult to reason with and find myself yelling, then he yells and finally after we both calm down after tears and hugs, I am so sorry for doing this. I have prayed so often for The Lord to help me be a better nan, and show more of Him and less of me and to show me how to react to my grandson whom I love very much and he is such a Blessing to me. I thank you so much for pointing out the sin of yelling and giving scripture proof for it. I will do my best to take all your advice from God’s word and with His help I can stop yelling. God Bless you always. Lovely to hear I am not the only one who does this !
I came across your article after searching ”what the Bible says about yelling”. I have been on this journey for a while now and I have neglected the fruit of my spirit I have a 5 and 2 year old that I dote upon but the reality is if I am constantly yelling at them I am lacking spiritual guidance and strength. I feel that my kids only respond to yelling but that is not true; if I was to walk the road of accountability I would say I do it so often it is what they have come to recognize. This article showed me that I am not alone and with prayer I can improve. I am grateful for all your insight
My daughter Louise, has 5 children under the age of 8. Dylan who is 8, Chloe who is 5 and identical triplet boys who are 3. She yells so much her yelling stresses me out and I sit and think that if I feel stressed, how do those kiddies feel. She so needs some help in this area….
Hi Jess,
I actually prayed about this just yesterday. I got tired of yelling at my children and everyone and I sincerely asked God for help. I needed scriptures about yelling to pray with, so I googled and found your post. God answered my prayer by leading me to your post. (You are a blessing!)
I never thought of yelling to be sinful, I just knew it left a bad ‘after taste’.
Thank you for sharing this post. I am determined with the help of the Holy Spirit stop this sin.
This is such a blessing. Thank you.