When words are not enough, they search the very soul of man to say a simple thing. They may float around inside one's mind for days and still find nothing worthy to share with another. To reassure. To comfort. To encourage. To edify. To right a wrong. To wipe away the hurt inside another's heart--their shame, their discouragement, their loss. Worthy and wise words seek a way to explain. To protect. To caution. To mend. To defend. To make a point with grace. There's a space within God's mind where all hearts can join with Him. If we pause long enough in that space, and calmly wait for Him to speak, we find God's grace sufficient enough to give us words clear enough to voice I am sorry, ask forgiveness, and fill the gaps of a broken trust. Indeed, to reason and reconcile. It is written:
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;" James 1:19.
Listening is of utmost importance to James. Perhaps he knew this particular statement would alert the twelve tribes to pay greater attention to the message God had laid on his heart. Perhaps he knew they would be prone to whine when they had problems. He knew they'd succumb to pride. He knew they would flit from faithful to faithless. He knew they'd speak rashly, and quickly anger. He knew they'd speak before they thought and judge before they reasoned. "Swift to hear." Pause. Think before we speak. Listen to the heart, discern the spirit in which another speaks. Pray for wisdom before we respond. Speak as we'd want to be spoken to. Challenge, admonish and reprove as we would want to be challenged, admonished or reproved--as we'd want a stranger to treat our child. Calmly think on these things. selahV
WHEN WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH (PART TWO)
