Simply Angie Sometimes it can be difficult to know when to keep silent and when to speak. I know I’ve been a bit silent with my newsletter for the last few months, and I’m sorry for that. I had need of a silent space because of the chaos that was swirling around me.
The chaos has mostly calmed, and while life is always surprising me with unexpected twists and turns, I believe I am ready to start ‘speaking’ again. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:.. …A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 7 If you are anything like me, you may discover there are different seasons in life regarding this subject. It can be so difficult to know when to speak and when to keep silent. This is particularly true if you lean heavily one way or the other as part of your personality. People who know me well would probably tell you that I am an extrovert and love to talk. I can’t blame them for believing that, regardless of the fact that it’s not actually true. It certainly appears to be true based on my behavior. Here’s a little secret. I am much happier alone and silent than I am among people and chatting away. Maybe not happier. That’s probably the wrong word. Comfortable. That’s a better word. I’m a homebody! I very much prefer to stay at home and potter around the house, read a book, take an online course, etc. That is my ‘comfort zone.’ As a Christian teenager, I was encouraged by my wonderful mother to get out of that infamous ‘comfort zone’ and make myself become actively friendly to others. That was the start of my lifelong quest to develop the qualities I believe the Lord requires of me in service to Him, my husband, my family, and others. God already knew, of course, the plans He had for me. He knew the years I would spend teaching children and ladies, and the social skills I would need to bring glory to the name of Jesus. Don’t get me wrong. I do genuinely love people and take great joy in my service and interactions with them (for the most part 😉). I believe that is a gift from the Lord for my obedience. My point, I suppose, is that sometimes my spirit just needs a time to rest from all the ‘speaking’ and the ‘doing,’ so I am grateful for Solomon writing about the “time to keep silence.” There are times when I feel discouraged or disheartened after spending countless hours loving and teaching people, whether one-on-one, or in group settings, only to have those I am trying to help with the principles of God’s Word either completely deny or ignore His truth or become angry at the messenger. It’s extremely draining. When that happens, I start asking myself why I bother. I wonder if I should just quit talking and leave people to their own devices, letting them live with the consequences of their rebellion against God and His Word. I question whether my ‘speaking’ is making any difference for eternity. This is when I really need that time to keep silence. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, In the time of silence, I feel refreshed. I am able to be quiet and listen to God. I’m reminded of Who He Is, what He has done for me, and that it is His job to convict, convince, and conform others to His will. Not mine. What a relief! Of course, there are more applications to Ecclesiastes 3:7, and I’ve been thinking about them as well lately. There are definitely moments that I speak when I should have remained silent; other moments that I remained silent, when I should have spoken up. I am continually seeking the Lord’s guidance through His Holy Spirit so that I can improve my timing in the area of speech. Do you struggle with this as much as I do? It’s never a great feeling when you realize, after the fact, that you should have spoken up for the Lord, rather than be intimidated or afraid of what someone would think of you. It’s equally unpleasant when you realize you got caught up in a moment of emotion or a challenging situation, and said more than you should have, even if what you said was true. The Bible is filled with Scriptures counseling us on how to use our tongue aright. One service earlier this year, instead of preaching, my husband simply went through the Bible and read over 150 verses related to our tongue and speech. It was powerful. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3 I’m asking the Lord to help me pause more before I speak. I want Him to be the One to open and close my lips at His command, rather than have them open or close at my will. The result will ensure that I can rest in the knowledge that I have obeyed Him. That’s all that really matters to me in the end. Love and blessings, P.S. Before I go, I wanted to let you know that I added another one of my favorite chocolate recipes to angieberg.com. Have you ever had Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls? Mmmmm! They are scrumptious, and so easy to make. Enjoy! Talk to you again soon. Can’t wait?
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Wednesday, November 22, 2023
A Time To Keep Silence
