One of my favorite Marvel characters is the Hulk. Bruce Banner was a calm, intelligent, and laid-back scientist. Yet he had a part of him that, when emotions overwhelmed him—anger, stress, threats—he transformed into the Hulk. His strength came with a challenge: when he allowed his emotions to dictate his actions, he could not control himself and would destroy anything in his path. He did not yet know how to regulate or channel those emotions.

I believe we all have a “Hulk” inside of us—not a monster, but a part of us that, if unmanaged, can spiral out of control. We can be triggered by frustration, the pressures of life, feeling misunderstood, exhaustion, past wounds, fear of losing control, or uncertainty about the future.  Yet, like the Hulk, this inner part of us is not evil. It is often trying to protect us. But unmanaged strength can hurt what we’re trying to protect. Like the gifts the Lord gives us, our strength is a blessing—but it can also be harmful if not used properly.

One of my gifts is teaching, and through that, I had to learn to use my voice. Initially, I wasn’t always familiar with its use. I could be rough around the edges, acting out like a toddler having a tantrum, not knowing how or when to express myself. At times, I’ve hurt others simply by being too direct or lacking self-control.  As Proverbs 25:28 reminds us: “A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.”  But just like Bruce Banner learned, power is greatest when guided, not unleashed. Every time the Hulk was unleashed, Bruce likely became weary, maybe even regretful, seeing the damage caused by uncontrolled strength.

God teaches us that His strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). He doesn’t take away our power or intensity but redirects it to His purpose when we surrender to Him. This doesn’t justify acting out, but when we hand our emotions and weaknesses over to God, Christ’s power can rest on us, teaching us wisdom, patience, and discernment.  Weaknesses do not mean you’re not winning; it can be used as a demonstration in setting us up for the future. We are invited to respond instead of react, to use our strength to build rather than tear down.

Reflection Questions

• What situations tend to trigger my “inner Hulk”?
• When I react strongly, what am I really trying to protect or defend?
• Where is God asking me to surrender some of my weaknesses so He can activate His strength in a controlled, purposeful way?

Remember: you don’t need to suppress your strength or silence your emotions. God wants to transform raw power into righteous power, so your strength becomes a blessing, not a burden.