Ecclesiastes 3:1,4,5,7 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven… a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance… a time to embrace and a time to refrain… a time to be silent and a time to speak…
I sometimes struggle to know what to say in class. No great thoughts or inspirations come to me. When this happens I get in a panic. Not knowing what to say is frightening at times. But then I thought that you probably experience that same lack of words.
Relationships with others often leave us at a loss for words. That is okay. When someone is grieving we can be silent with a hug of love. If someone has erred and needs correction, silence can be the communication of displeasure. Silence itself is frightening, like when you’re in a crowd of people. You don’t know what to say and no one says anything to you.
Silence is an acceptable form of communication. It is a choice to listen rather than speak. It is a decision to allow your presence to say more than your lips ever could. Silence helps you listen to others and not be distracted by your own thoughts. Silence practiced is a sign of your maturity and God’s grace in you.
Jericho Road Ministries Chapel, 2011.
