Sometimes Words are Enough

This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.

─ Luke 21:13-15

Gretchen’s phone buzzed in her purse, alerting her to a text. She pulled her car into the garage and then looked at her phone. A message from her friend Marta. CAN WE TALK?

She held her breath for a moment and then let out a long sigh. Marta’s young son had recently been diagnosed with a rare illness. While Gretchen’s heart broke for her friend, she didn’t really know what to say. And every time she did speak, she felt like she was just rubbing in how happy and healthy her family was.

She’d begun avoiding Marta’s calls, afraid of saying the wrong thing. But she felt God tugging on her heart, reminding her that He loved Marta more than she did. With a quick prayer that God would give her the right words, Gretchen dialed her friend.

“I’m so glad you called,” Marta said. “I’ve been so lonely, and I just feel like no one understands how hard it is to watch my own son suffer.”

As she prayed again for words of hope to help her friend, Gretchen opened her mouth. “You’re right. I don’t know what it’s like to face these challenges. But I know that God understands. He watched His own son Jesus suffer, sweat blood and die on the cross.”

Marta took a shaking breath. “I guess I never thought about it like that.”

Words spoken at the right time can bring understanding to difficult situations, spark answers to life’s questions and bring healing and restoration to relationships. Our words can give someone hope to hang on just a little longer. But sometimes we miss the opportunity to speak life because we’re afraid of saying the wrong thing. We don’t have to be. When we follow God’s lead, we can be sure that He’ll give us words of hope to share.

Today’s One Thing

Ask God to give you His words for someone in your life. Then have a conversation you’ve been putting off. Do it today!

Receive Devotionals like This in Your Email