Proverbs 15:15 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
It is possible to take this proverb as a conditional promise, although it is not originally meant as a promise. The promise would be like this: if you answer softly during contentious dispute, then the Lord will tone down the anger of the other person. Maybe it goes without saying that gentleness can defuse a volatile situation, but if we take it as promise from God, then we are more likely to attempt “softness” in response. It is not so easy to act and speak contrary to the emotions of the moment, even when it seems reasonable and feels justifiable.
Therefore, we need to trust God’s promise that, in spite of the anger we are feeling, a kinder, gentler, softer response will actually work better. Faith in God’s Word will work things out better than acting on anger. Anger escalates. Anger leads to sins in words and deeds. With the Spirit’s help, we can overcome the anger by believing God and acting on the wisdom of a “soft answer.”
Consider this: the Cross of Christ may be the softest answer ever given. It turns away God’s anger upon our sin, and it completely disarms the devil’s anger against us. We glory in the soft answer of the cross. It has great power toward us.