“If words are many, sin is not absent. He who holds his tongue is wise.” Proverbs 10:19
Hurtful words spoken in anger. I caught them, felt the pain of them, and believed them. “I am a failure as a wife, a mother, a Christian.”
And yet in my heart, I knew I had done my best. I knew I had lived well. Then why can’t she remember the good I’ve done? I stewed.
Feeling desperately hurt, I sought counselling.
“They are words of anger spoken into the wind,” my pastor said “Don’t catch them. Don’t let them lodge in your mind to hatch into self-pity. Don’t personalize them. If you do, you’ll become frozen into a stance of hurt. Bitterness will grow in your heart and poison you. Let them go. Don’t even repeat them. They are irrational words spoken in haste.”
“Flying words hurled out of an angry mouth—counter them with a word from God,” says Amy Carmichael.
“But shouldn’t I set the record straight?” I asked.
“Nothing you say at this point will impress her,” the pastor said. “It will only make it worse. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).
“Let God vindicate you: ‘do not take revenge, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”
(Romans 12:19, 20).
Is there someone you need to forgive? Some angry, hurtful words you need to let go? Ask God for the grace to let go and to trust Him to make it right.
From experience I know it’s the only way to live free.
Dear Father, I want my words to be words of healing, not of hurt. I want to remember that ‘kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body” (Proverbs 16: 24 NLT)
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
“This too shall pass,” has become a popular sentiment spoken in times of crisis and heartbreak. Certainly the state of the world, more so in the past nine months, has given pause to hope and believe these same words to be true.
Within my own periods of distress, the thought that time will sweep away the hurt has been an unexpected source of encouragement. Even though it took months, in some instances, to overcome an emotional hurdle, the passing time proved itself a soothing balm to my heart — enabling me to reflect and respond, internally, to what happened and ponder how it positively shaped me.
Today’s verse comes as a deeper affirmation of the past lessons I have learned. No matter what life will throw at me, it won’t last forever. Though the unforeseen situation has a beginning, it will have an ending and something else will take its place. Whether good or unwelcome, there will be a timeline. An uplifting truth.
The passing of calendar days will bring change. As followers of Christ, our response to the turning tides can speak volumes to those around us. Our difficulties, while seemingly insurmountable at the moment, are overshadowed by our knowledge of our Savior, Jesus, who has promised to carry us through, bolstering our resolve in ways never before anticipated.
So, let us create positive opportunities in times of crisis through sharing the unchanging greatness that can only be found in the saving grace and strength of Jesus.
Precious Father, you know that for most of my life, I have both disliked and feared change. Yet, it has only been through my relationship with you that I have not only been able to accept that change is inevitable, but embrace it as an opportunity to grow as your child in positive ways. Keep me grounded in you so that I may be an example of the good that can come from knowing you in an ever-changing world. It is in Jesus’ name that I praise and thank you. Amen.
Thank God that all things work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8.28). Pray for any friends who are going through difficult situations.
