Restraint

Jeff [1] works in a start-up company that meets in a new office complex in Seattle. He is a bright, creative young man who would have a fantastic future except for one glaring character flaw—his inability to keep his words and emotions in check. When Jeff joined four other young entrepreneurs to launch Still Waters, a meta platform that focuses on AI research, his team was excited about his experience and skills utilizing AI. But after six months of working together, the team found several frustrating traits about him.

Jeff hated to be wrong.  When queried about other solutions for working with clients, Jeff insisted his way was best. If pressed, he accused his teammates of sabotaging his work. When they tried to explain their reasoning, he consistently interrupted them. When asked not to interrupt, he accused them of the same action.
            
Jeff struggled to control his temper. Angry words escaped his mouth with accusations or pent-up frustration. Sometimes he yelled and then would slam the door, leaving the office with very upset coworkers. Later, he would apologize for his lack of control, yet the pattern of temper tantrums remained.
            
If Jeff’s reasoning was exposed as flawed or deficient, he was quick to find perceived faults in his teammates. He would accuse them of not listening to him, of being insensitive to his feelings, shifting the focus away from himself. Rather than work through problems directly with whoever he was upset with, he avoided in-person discussions by seeking to control how, where, and when they would communicate. Often, it reached a point that it was nearly impossible to have a civil discussion with Jeff, ironically, because of his abject need for control and habit of blaming or bringing up their past mistakes. 
 
Meditation
Isaiah 48:9--I will delay My anger for the honor of My name, and I will restrain Myself for your benefit and for My praise, so that you will not be destroyed.
 
As Proverbs 27:17 reveals, restraint is an excellent quality exhibited by secure people. Mohatma Gandhi noted that “When restraint and courtesy are added to strength, the latter becomes irresistible.”  Conversely, Theodore Dwight Weld observed, “The fact that a person intensely desires power over others without restraint, shows the absolute necessity of that restraint.” Intelligent people use words accurately and sparingly to have the greatest impact. They do not easily anger, and if they are upset, they remain measured emotionally so that their words and actions do not inflict harm or cause embarrassment. Jesus, when confronted by His enemies, exhibited calmness fueled by love.  He is the direct application of God’s restraint towards our sin!
 
Inspiration
Many a sin has sullied me in body and in soul because I did not restrain my thoughts nor guard my lips: nevertheless it is to Thee, O God of majesty and love, that I turn in my extremity, for Thou art the fount of mercy; to Thee, as quickly as I may, I speed: for Thou alone canst heal me; I take refuge under Thy protection.—Saint Ambrose
 
©2025 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  To receive these devotionals, go to www.firstcause.org and click the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)

[1] Not his real name