The young man must have come across as a raging madman. Four times the Bible says Elihu “burned with anger.” He was mad, mad, mad! Listening to Job and the three elder friends lit a fuse within this younger man until the anger burned everyone around him.  How foolish and unnecessary.

I wish I had never been as foolish. How about you? Something that is none of my business or only modestly inconveniences me becomes a fuse that I allow to burn. I feed it more fuel until it is a raging fire, burning friend and foe alike. Repentance necessarily follows, but feelings and emotions have been charred.

Can this be avoided? What will it take for me to be “cool” under pressure?

Trust in God to care for me. Growing in grace and kindness. Humility.

Jesus, help me to lay aside my sin which clings to me and to run this race with endurance.