The Power Of Saying Nothing

How good are you at keeping your mouth shut?

I’m not talking about holding back truth or being fake. I’m talking about knowing when to speak and when to be still.

For most of my life, I’ve admired the ones who always stood up and spoke out. I even prided myself on being that person. But over time, I’ve learned that being outspoken isn’t always a strength.

It can actually be a weakness in disguise.

I used to know someone who was just plain rude, and they’d justify it by saying, “I’m just keeping it real.” My response? “Yeah, real mean.”

Sadly, I still speak up more than I should. I’ve improved, but I’ve got a long way to go. You would think that by this stage in life, I’d have mastered my tongue.

The truth is, I’ve offended people with my words. I’ve said things I wish I could take back. And some of those relationships are still broken. Even after years have passed, the damage hasn’t healed.

Solomon once said, “A brother who has been insulted is harder to win back than a walled city, and arguments separate people like the barred gates of a palace.” (Proverbs 18:19 NCV).

Words can create walls. And once those walls are up, they’re not easy to bring down. The Bible speaks over and over about the wisdom of holding your tongue.

“Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet; if they don’t speak, they appear to understand.” (Proverbs 17:28 NCV).

“People who are careful about what they say will save themselves from trouble.” (Proverbs 21:23 NCV).

“A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger, but an unkind answer will cause more anger.” (Proverbs 15:1 NCV).

“The words of the wise people bring healing.” (Proverbs 12:18 NCV).

If you’ve ever regretted something you said, you’re not alone. It’s better to hold back than to try and repair what should’ve never been spoken.

Here’s some practical advice.

When the opportunity comes for spontaneous conversation, lean into compliments, encouragement, thankfulness, and admiration. Those kinds of words are safe and full of life.

But if you feel the need to correct someone, pause. Pray. Ponder. You may decide to just let God handle it. Most of the time, people are going to do what they want to do anyway.

Still, there is a time to speak. “The right word spoken at the right time is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl.” (Proverbs 25:11 NCV).

That means timing matters. And tone matters too. It's not just what you say, but how and when you say it.

So keep praying for wisdom. Keep asking God to guide your words.

LORD, help our words build, encourage, heal, and leave others with the sense that we love them deeply. IJNIP amen ♥️