Dare I confess that there are times when news reports make my blood pressure rise? I become angered by acts of injustice, cruelty, disrespectfulness, or selfishness. These acts are always committed by people who have no desire to heed God’s instruction to treat others the way we want to be treated or to honor His creation. Every person is born with the choice to follow God or reject Him. It’s a personal decision, but it has consequences that extend beyond the individual choice.

As frustrating as it is when one person’s poor choice trickles over and hurts others, I have to remember that my anger isn’t helpful, either. Instead of raging at man’s poor choices (a feeling that can lead me into harmful action), it’s better to turn to Him in prayer. I can’t change anyone. I am powerless to redeem and reform. But God is able, and when I pray and put the situation and all concerned into His hands, then I can be assured that whatever happens will be completely just and fair, because God is just and fair.

Rage inspires negative results; prayer has the power to change things—maybe not always in the one for whom I pray (because it’s that person’s choice to change or not), but it always changes me.