A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. (Proverbs 17:27-28)
Not only is it important to keep quiet in the presence of the Lord in order to hear his words and direction, but Proverbs 17 points out that quietness with those around you can be wise.
In our lives, we come across arguments with people. Maybe it’s your best friend, or your parents, your spouse or your boyfriend. There may be a disconnect in understanding, or times when you just don’t see eye to eye. In our minds, we believe that if we could find the right words, everything could change. We automatically go to a place of conflict to solve our confusion.
At moments, we find it our place to give instruction or guidance to an unwilling audience. At other times, the people in our lives decide that WE are the ones who need instruction and we know that the advice is unwarranted.
Proverbs points out that “a wise person uses few words” and also has an even temper, meaning that you’re not easily angry. Sometimes the best thing you can do in conflict is stay silent. It’s not our job to change the personality in those around us. We won’t succeed. That’s a much bigger job for our God. He will work out His will and His plan and sometimes He needs us to be silent in order to do this.
Sometimes we need to be quiet, not so we can sit there and do nothing, but so that He can give us the correct words spoken in wisdom and not anger.
God wanted me to strengthen my time with Him and admittedly my time with my husband. He made it so evidently clear that even my voice was taken away. I took this as a clear confirmation that God was speaking.
This “quiet” time has been so strong on my heart. As humans, we argue, we complain, and we are naturally needy. It’s such an overwhelming aspect of our personality that we can’t stop and stay quiet long enough to let God do what He needs to do in our lives and the lives around us.
servantsongs.org 