The Power Of Silence
Do you ever wonder who started the movement that most of us boldly participate in?
The movement of speaking out about our feelings, sharing our experiences & making our opinions known?
Clearly someone was the first, someone pioneered and spoke out on the internet and then someone else spoke up because they felt like by that person speaking they had permission to do the same. And over and over and over again that pattern continued until we're here, now, in 2021 where if you don't speak, you're judged for your silence.
That breaks my heart because somewhere in that process we swung from one side of things- silence, shame, hiding to the complete opposite end where you if you stay silent we accuse you of hiding and we shame you. And somewhere in there we lost sight of one of the most important things: wisdom.
The wisdom to know when to speak, how much to share and with whom to share it with. In our own inevitable hypocrisy we contradict the concept of "speaking our truth" and "using our voices" because with using your voice comes the innate right to not use your voice.
The ability to discern when you are supposed to step into a conversation and when God says, "no, I've got this one". We've lost that ability in the ease of the "share", "post" and "tweet" button. We're able to get our thoughts and feelings out so quickly that we hardly ever take a minute to contemplate if what we're saying is our conversation to step into and if it's necessary, worth it & appropriate to say.
I applaud speaking out and using your voice, sharing your stories and standing up against injustices. I use that right each and every day. But just as much as it is my right to use my voice, it is also my right to not use it.
Because for each and every word that leaves my mouth or fingertips, I will have to answer to God. I will have to answer to whether or not I listened when I was supposed to speak and if I listened when I was not supposed to speak.
Keep that in mind that if you feel the need to ridicule or "punish" someone for not speaking when you felt that they needed to speak. Nothing you could do or say will hold any weight to God's response if they were actually supposed to speak and they didn't. So give it a rest.
Whether we realize it or not, silence doesn't automatically equal a coward. It doesn't automatically mean that you agree with an injustice. It doesn't mean that you are taking part in an evil. Rather silence sometimes speaks louder than words. Silence sometimes shows wisdom. Silence sometimes means that not engaging in that moment is better than engaging. Silence is not inherently evil.
In fact, in the silence is where we are refreshed. Silence is where God meets us and we can hear His voice. Silence is where we can recenter, refocus and dream up new thoughts and ideas. Creativity overflows in silence because our bodies and brains need rest.
We live in a world that is often screaming.
We live in a world where we are constantly complaining of headaches and anxiety from all the noise.
If you put two and two together you may just see that silence may be what actually frees us and gives us rest and rejuvenation in those in-between moments.
Exodus 14:14 - The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.
We expect so much grace from other people as we walk through life, let us reciprocate that fully and remember that we don't know their journey. We don't know where they are at mentally or spiritually or what else is going on in their life at that moment. Your top priority does not have to be their top priority. Be intentional with your words and in the same way assume that they are being intentional with theirs as well.
Part of the beauty of having the freedom to choose our words is also having the freedom to choose which words we don't share.
Be blessed today and remember to think before you speak, your words are powerful, use them wisely.
Psalms 46:10 - He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."