A Small Book about a Big Problem: Meditations on Anger, Patience, and Peace

by Edward T. Welch

How many times today have you been irritated? Frustrated? While you might not think about it often, if you look closely at any day most everyone can find anger in their actions and attitudes. Something spills or goes missing, we get stuck in traffic or someone cuts us off on the road, or we feel like the people we live and work with are only making our lives more difficult. And while no one wants to get angry, what happens when our irritations and frustrations rise yet again?

Anger is so common—yet it also hurts. It not only leaves a mark on us, but it also leaves a marks on others. The wounds we inflict on ourselves and others because of anger—loss of intimacy, trust, security, and enjoyment in our closest relationships—give us compelling reasons to look closely at our anger and think carefully about how to grow in peace and patience.

But if you, like many others, have just gotten irritated for the umpteenth time today, you might wonder if change is possible. Can anyone truly find peace? The answer is yes, but you will need a plan. Biblical counselor and psychologist Ed Welch invites readers to take a fifty-day journey that unpacks anger while encouraging and teaching readers to respond with patience to life’s difficulties. Readers will also be introduced to Jesus, the key to any plan for change. Known as the Prince of Peace, he is the only one who can empower his people to grow in patience, peace, and wholeness.

Provides short, daily meditations that encourage readers to look carefully at how their anger affects them and others.
The fifty-day reading plan gives ample time for readers to unpack the underlying causes of irritation and frustration and develop a Spirit-led plan for growth.
Offers encouragement and helps readers to develop the skills to deal with the universal problem of anger and respond with more patience to life’s difficulties
Christ-centered teachings give readers hope that they can change not based on their own efforts, but through the work of Jesus and his indwelling Spirit.
A useful tool for pastors, counselors, and lay helpers who are working with people who struggle with a short fuse.

Genres: Christian Living, Counselling, Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, Theology, Devotional

186 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Edward T. Welch, M.Div., Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He has counseled for thirty years and is the best-selling author of many books including When People Are Big and God Is Small; Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave; Blame It on the Brain?; Depression: A Stubborn Darkness; Crossroads: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Addiction; Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest; and When I Am Afraid: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety. He and his wife Sheri have two daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren.

Reviews

[Whitney Grindberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's good but I think it's missing the pretty important component of the WHY behind anger. There's lots of good advice that's challenging and encouraging, but it's kind of superficial. What IS anger? Why do I struggle with it so? Maybe learning the why wouldn't be as important as I think it would be. But getting to the root of the matter certainly couldn't hurt.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title does a good job at describing the book, as it is quite small. The book includes 50 fairly short chapters that deal with anger, patience and peace. The book describes a lot of actions that many of us probably don't recognize as anger, such as gossiping or jealousy. The book goes on to also explain that there are different types of anger, which I thought was also quite interesting. I think that anger is a topic that everyone can relate to regardless of the way you express your anger. The gossip as anger was an interesting concept to me, not that I enjoy gossiping, but I believe everyone does it and I never considered it as a form of anger. I thought this was a very interesting book filled with useful daily meditations including questions and Biblical verses relating to the topic.

Thank you to the publisher, New Growth Press, for sending me a review copy of this book.

[Sarah Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do not be deceived by this book’s small size. It is NOT a book you can read through quickly.

I sometimes even found it challenging to finish one of the short (few page) chapters in one sitting, because of the blow after blow they afforded. Welch strikes right to the heart, presenting anger - in its various and often subtle forms - in its true and heinous light. He reveals that anger is not one isolated issue but carries with it many, far-reaching implications. He admonishes but also deeply encourages and revitalizes the spirit, returning again and again to the truth and hope of the gospel to change hearts.

I would imagine that even if you don’t think you are an angry person or that you struggle with anger, you could read this and quickly discover that it speaks to you in profound and life-changing ways.

This book is definitely going into regular rotation.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Small Book About a Big Problem was a great read. The chapters were very short, so the book was very easy to read. I think the last chapter was my favorite and one I'll remember the most. I know this review is short, but I really can't think of anything else to say about the book.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

[Matthew Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Biggest Problem With This Book Is a Small One.

First, the critique.

I hate the title. It's accurate because the book is small (the 185 pages are only 4"x6"!) and the problem it talks about is big and affects us all, but you can't tell from the name what the book is actually about. The small print subtitle helps a little: Meditations on Anger, Patience, and Peace. I like the simplicity and color-scheme of the cover, but it also doesn't signal what is inside. Most of Ed's titles are timeless classics--Blame It on the Brain?, Running Scared, Shame Interrupted, When People Are Big and God Is Small, Side by Side--so this one is a bit of a let-down.

The Biggest Strength of This Book Is Not a Small One.

Okay. Glad I got that off my chest. I really don't have any other criticism to offer. This is a great book! The genius of it is how Ed crams 50 pungent meditations into such a small space and at a perfect pace.

Ed hasn't written a bunch of "devotional nuggets" with flowery, mystical, syrupy thoughts. He has distilled the dynamics of human anger and found 50 helpful ways to approach the problem biblically. Reading it is like having a really good conversation with a really good counselor. But a purposeful conversation. Ed doesn't waste time or words to get to the heart of things. For example, Day 41 begins, "If you want to know what you really think about the Lord, watch how you live." And he ends most of the short chapters with a searching question or two for application. It's really powerful stuff.

And it's funny, too. Day 36 begins, "You usually don't want to mess with raccoons, but this one was extreme." You know you want to read that chapter! The humor is often self-deprecatingly disarming and, before you know it, you see yourself (and your own hang-ups) in the mirror.

When I first started reading it, I said this on social media:

This book is small like a "ghost pepper" is small.

I expect that this small book will have big impact in people's lives.

My full review (and a contest to get a free one) is here:

http://matt-mitchell.blogspot.com/201...

[I received a review copy from Litfuse Publicity Group.]

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Each of us has experienced anger. Each of us has been hurt and hurt others because of it. Welch decided to take a slow walk through the issue, writing 50 short vignettes to be read over 50 days. Each reading includes a question for thought.

This is a good book about anger but I was disappointed in that it lacked clear and practical ideas to deal with anger. Welch explores the relationship of anger to fear and blame. He reminds us Jesus was hard on anger because it destroys. Welch also explores how anger is formed, beginning as a desire but then having that desire thwarted. He helps us understand what anger reveals about our relationships, including with God.

A confusing aspect of the book for me was Welch writing about anger's opposite. He writes that wisdom is anger's opposite (Loc 276/1400), love is the opposite of anger (Loc 300/1400), humility is the opposite of anger (Loc 487/1400), and asking forgiveness is anger's opposite (Loc 598/1400).

Unfortunately, Welch gives some suggestions but includes no strategy to carry them out. An example is Day 50. “Cast off anger and all its affiliates,” he writes. “Cast off everything that has to do with darkness and the Evil One.” (Loc 1325/1400) A good admonition but carrying it out is left up to the reader. No practical strategy is included.

If you are looking for readings about anger and a few general suggestions, this book is for you. If you want a book with some practical strategy in dealing with your anger, such as identifying its roots, you will have to look elsewhere.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Litfuse. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Rob McCutcheon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent little book. I enjoyed the format of a section a day to keep your heart continually focused on the issue through daily bite-sized chunks. Welch, as always, displays his gift of wisdom and discernment in how he counsels the reader through first understanding anger, then turning to see what God says about the emotion. This is an excellent companion book to Powlison’s “Good & Angry” for those Christians seeking to cultivate patience, kindness, and gentleness.

[Michael Philliber · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd time to read it. Even better than the first time.

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly, highly recommend to everyone, even if you don’t think you have an anger problem! 50 very short, very convicting devotion-style chapters. This is a book to keep close and handy.

[SK · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle and encouraging way to start the day, more profitable than scrolling through news or catching up on WhatsApp at 6:00 a.m. in the morning.

[E.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little book to help you face the reality of anger in every day life.

This is a small book that I wish had been a little bigger. Don't get me wrong--I think the content is very good and the format is really engaging in the way that you can go through a section a day, but I think that an opportunity was missed.

I have loved previous books by Edward T. Welch and I know the he has a lot of wisdom to share and good things to say. The book itself is filled with insight and wise statements and that may be something that is just right for you, but for something as big (and prevalent) as the topic of anger, I personally think this book could have been expanded.

I found myself coming to the end of a section and feeling like I wanted more. More ways to think about the topic of that day's section, more insights into how we can combat our own anger, more applicable scriptural passages. I felt a little cheated.

That may sound negative and I don't want it to; I just want to be honest. I think that, if you go into this book with the attitude that you need to supplement with your own Bible reading and journaling to truly flesh out the topic, it could be a great devotional book for you. I also think it could be great to go through with a friend where you could challenge each other to think deeply about what you've read and to be honest with yourself and each other.

All of that to say: Yes, I would recommend this book, but I would give the caveat that it will be best used as a kick-starter to deeper conversations with others and self-reflection. With that in mind, I think you'll find a lot to take away with from this book.

My rating: 3.8*

_______________
I received this book for free but was under no obligation to post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. When it arrived in the post, I was slightly miffed. I mean, this is a REALLY small book. But, it's a daily devotional focusing on the multitude of subtle ways that anger manifests itself, even when we think we're not angry people. This is helpful, because most of us ARE angry, frequently, in ways that may not be visible, especially to ourselves. Anger is not necessarily wrong in itself, but how we deal with it often is wrong, in a thousand subtle ways. Initially I bought the book to recommend to a friend in ministry, who reached out to me for help in midlife in dealing with anger he's not experienced before (with middle-age not an insignificant comment, by the way.) You won't know who he is, so please don't try to guess.
But actually, in reading the book daily, I've found myself having to pray through those subtle manifestations of anger which I hadn't considered in myself before.
This book doesn't seem "deep" if you're a keen theological reader. But reading it daily and slowly and prayerfully has been helpful - not mind-blowing, but slowly and painstakingly helpful.

[Willow Grimaldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chaoter 48 was deintly my favorite chapter of the book as it talked about how anger can come from the fact that we expect people to be like us and when they aren't it ellicts a self-righteous anger. Very practical book and great biblical principles

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A helpful little book aimed at revealing how dangerous anger can be, how pervasive it is in our lives, and what we can do about it. Encouraging and convicting. Definitely one I will come back to.

[Ryan Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Reminds me a lot of David Powlison. We should desire to love more than be loved.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Each day's chapter was 2-3 pages and each left me with something to think on, pray on, or act on. Highly recommend for anyone who struggles even a little with anger.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general, Ed Welch's prose is just hard for me to enter into. I'm not sure why it comes across to me as choppy, but it does. It's hard for me to follow his trains of thought, though I respect his wisdom. This problem, for me, was compounded by the fact that these were also short, choppy chapters: one or two pages long, often not building on each other. Still, I found many beneficial thoughts:
"If we are servants of Jesus, we take less offense when people wrong us. We think instead, How can I represent my Master now?" (26)
"We want what we want, and we don't want [God]. We believe that independence is our best strategy. For the moment, at least, we have become God's enemy" (44).
"In fact, in our anger and outrage, we have decided that we want to be God rather than submit to him, as if we would do a better job of it" (46).
"Does [1 Peter 2:23] leave you deaf, blind, and mute in the face of personal injustices? No, it leaves you so that you are not mastered by the injustices of others. Anger might feel powerful but it is not. It renders you a servant of the one who hurt you" (54).
"With human anger, you run for cover. It is never an invitations to discourse. But God had made a proposal to Moses for the very purpose of being talked out of it. That's why God's anger deserves a different name, such as patience, faithfulness, or love" (123).
"The occasions that would normally bring out our anger are the perfect tests for our soul. They are gifts to help us follow Christ. Will we follow the Lord when life is inconvenient and we are not treated well?" (136)
On 1 Peter 2:21-23: "In his humanity [Jesus] gave up his divine right to judge the world. He gave that right to his Father in heaven. When you are fully confident that your Father is just, you know that injustice will not prosper. . . . The secret does not reside in knowing the details of the Father's judgments. . . . Rather, the secret resides in knowing the Judge and trusting him to do right" (162).

These were the ideas that I chewed on long after I'd read, and I record them here for easy access because I want to remember them for life.

[Linda J.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Anger looks like Satan...and it summons him." is my favorite quote from A Small Book about a Big Problem: Meditations on Anger, Patience, and Peace ... By Edward T. Welch. A wonderful devotional for every day use that can help explain how to handle our anger.

We can easily blow up with anger and possibly feel regret, but do we really understand the concept that by following the examples set by Jesus we can actually gain control over anger. Author Edward Welch weaves scripture into everyday language so we can get a grasp on forgiveness to others as well as ourselves.

Do you know what is the cousin to anger? Do you know 10 ways to Bless and Enemy? How about murder? Welch backs up each answer with scripture that we might not have even thought of, and shares them in realistic ways and stories.

A great daily read, giving us some good goals to follow.

[CJ Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fifty day devotional is an excellent resource for ongoing renewal of the mind on issues surrounding anger. Reading through a book about anger will also be helpful, but will affect mind and heart differently than this sort of long-term engagement, which works towards slow transformation rather than intensive information.

One thing that I would have liked to have seen play a greater role in these meditations would have been the coming judgment of God as chastening encouragement to those who seek to bring about justice through their own anger. Righteously angry people need to hear that God will avenge them, and while the idea did surface a couple times (esp. on Day 44), it really could have been the focus of another couple days all by itself.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate the format of 50 mini chapters, meant to be read over the course of 50 days. Too often we rush through books and find them helpful, but then they are too quickly forgotten. Taking 50 days to sustain your thinking on one topic (in this case anger) can do far more to effect real change.

However, I did still find David Powlison's Good & Angry more helpful because it really changed my paradigm about what anger is and why it matters. I am glad that I read this one after Powlison's because it helped me keep thinking about it and it also gave me a few new dimensions to consider.

I have a feeling that this is one I will need to return to a few more times over the course of my life, especially Day 48: Fifteen Signs of Growth, both to remind myself of the "small" goals that make a big difference, as well as to be encouraged by seeing that, by God's grace, I really have changed.

[Carissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoiler Alert: the "Big Problem" is Anger.



It's broken into 50 daily meditations. The book could have dug deeper, but maybe it's useful book if you're looking for a little daily reading on anger. I think a title and summary change would give a better idea of what you're going to read than how it's currently marketed.

[Drew Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

A welcome harbor amidst the tumultuous waves of anger. This is a devotional I will continue to read daily as I sit under the simple yet deep truths held within. Ed Welch turns our attention to Jesus throughout, and manages to call the reader to action and personal accountability. I simultaneously grew in my understanding of the freedom offered to me in Christ and my own daily responsibility to choose a different way of thinking and a different way of responding. Masterfully done.

[Darby Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really helpful little book. It has 50 really short chapters that help you to keep a daily focus on growing in patience and peace with others and putting away anger. I read it along with my daily devotions and it helped me be more mindful of how I treat others. Great for parents, as kids can be a test of patience. (or maybe that’s just me...)

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

50 small chapters meant to be read one per day. Welch does a great job acknowledging the true weight of our sin how we should view our anger. Welch has the long view in mind and that's what makes the book 5 stars for me. I will be going back to this book alot for all of the excellent biblical reminders.

[Virginia Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buy this book

I didn’t realize how deeply ungodly anger was coursing through my relationships, and I’m thankful that this book helped me to take a closer look at my heart. I’m grateful for the grace of the Lord, and hope in the blood that leads to change in our lives

[Jamie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not gonna lie I started this book in audible because it was short, not realising it was a 50 day devotional oops. Very insightful summary of anger and how it not only affects the people in your life but says a lot about your reverence (or lack of) towards God. Very good!

[Kaylie Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book! Though it seems to be geared toward people who have more serious struggles with anger, I think it is a convicting and worthwhile read for every Christian. I found it very applicable as a mom of young children. Welch does a phenomenal job at confronting the sin of anger while also pointing to the beauty of the gospel.

[Geoff Gobbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, uniquely pint size and desperately thought provoking. I needed this!

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this one. Helpful and convicting reflections on fighting the sin of anger by God’s grace and growth in the fruit of the Spirit—love, patience, and peace.

[Muriel Unseth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're breathing, this is for you.