“When you’re reading your Bible and see a therefore, always look and see what it’s there for.” This week, that little bit of wisdom from a Bible teacher led me to new understanding of why we get angry when we’re trying hard not to.

While studying, I looked up 1 Corinthians 10:13,  “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.”

The next word was therefore, so I read on to see further implications of this great, but familiar truth.

Verse 14 says, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” The “therefore implies that our temptations come out of idolatry, or those things we elevate and hold dear in our lives. That makes sense. If something I hold dear, or view as important, is withheld, I will be tempted to react unrighteously, or in anger.

I then looked before the verse that assures us that we want be tempted beyond what we can stand to see what it says, “Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).

Two things stood out in this verse.

First, a therefore begins the verse. It refers back to the Israelites and how they had God’s strength available to them, but they fell in the wilderness because some were idolaters, some acted immorally, and some grumbled.

Their examples are recorded, so we won’t make the same mistake. Therefore, we need to take heed and not do what they did (idolatry, immorality, ungratefulness)—or we will fall as they did.

Second, we fall because we think we stand. To think we stand is pride, or over-confidence in the strength of our righteousness. God may be faithful in not tempting us beyond our ability to resist temptation, but if we think we can handle it and depend on self instead of God, we’re likely to fall.

These verses expose a reason that most people have difficulty overcoming anger.

Christians are often reluctant to admit they struggle with anger, even when those around them know they have a problem. I was one of those. (Watch the video  of my testimony to learn my story.)

• If we’re in denial, we think we stand. We think we’re able to handle our anger and thus rely on our own strength. Indeed, most anger management courses teach methods we can use to try to manage our anger—on our own. And yet, God says, “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). You need God working in you to conquer anger. On your own, you’ll probably fail.
• God does not let us be tempted beyond our ability to endure. He provides a way of escape. That gives hope, but it also begs the question, “If the Lord gives me grace to endure, then why am I getting angry?”
• Why? Because of idolatry. Identify what it is that you hold as dear or important. What are you excessively attached to or devoted to? . . . “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Cor. 10:14).
• Why do you struggle with anger? (a)  I think I can stand, (b) Idoloatry, (c) Other.

By the way, because of my spouse/teen/neighbor/boss . . . is not an option!