Day 9 — Rage Quit

“…for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.”

— James 1:20 (BSB)

You’re one move away from winning. And then someone snipes you. Or the game glitches. Or your little brother bumps the controller. You lose.

What happens next?

For a lot of guys, it’s an explosion. Yelling at the screen. Throwing the controller. Slamming a door. Typing something nasty in the chat. Rage quitting.

Gaming can bring out a lot of anger. And online, it’s easy to say things you’d never say to someone’s face, because you can’t see them, and you might never meet them.

James says, “man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.” In other words, blowing up doesn’t make anything better. It doesn’t help you win. It doesn’t make you a better player. It doesn’t honor God. It usually just makes things worse: broken controllers, hurt feelings, trouble with your parents and a bad reputation.

Remember what you learned in Book 1? “He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior.” That applies to games too.

Here are some ways to handle gaming anger:

• Notice when you’re getting heated. Your heart speeds up, your jaw tightens and your hands grip harder.
• Take a break before you explode. Put the controller down. Walk away for a few minutes. Get a drink of water.
• Remember it’s a game. Losing a match isn’t the end of the world.
• Don’t type angry. If you’re mad, don’t write in the chat. You can’t take words back.
• Be kind to other players, even when they’re not kind to you.
• Know when to stop. If a game makes you angry most of the time, it might be time to play something else, or take a longer break.

And if someone online is cruel to you, threatens you or makes you feel uncomfortable, stop playing, and tell a parent.

Think about it: Do you ever get really angry while gaming? What usually happens? What could you do differently?

Try this: The next time a game makes you angry, put the controller down and walk away for five minutes before you react.

Dear God, help me control my anger, even when I’m gaming. Help me not to rage quit, throw things or say mean things to other players. Remind me that my anger doesn’t make things better. In Jesus’ name, Amen.