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Better Left Unsaid





As we prepare for another election in our nation, I am reminded of the gravity of the voice. It’s so important to let your voice be heard through voting. One voice can make a difference, and voices either bring peace or create strife in the name of peace. As Christians, we are called to peace. But how? 

This year alone has caused us to question everyday decisions and actions. Do we go out or stay home? Mask or no mask? Which news station can we trust to be unbiased?  In the chaos of these questions, I have to physically remove myself from the noise. Sometimes that means putting the phone down and picking up the truth-the Word of God. For me, it may mean that I don’t watch the news except to catch a quick glimpse at the weather report (which in my neck of the woods is subject to change by the hour!). 


I have learned that in order to discern the Voice of Truth, I have to refuse to engage with the other voices.  This doesn’t mean that I don’t care about what is going on in our community, nation, and world. On the contrary, I have very sound beliefs grounded and affirmed in my faith as I dig in to God’s word rather than man’s. 


Admittedly, God is still working on me in this area. I fail. I get frustrated. My flesh reacts before I allow myself to pause and wait on the Lord. Fortunately for me, the Holy Spirit nudges me and reminds me to  be still. Sometimes in the aftermath, I have to admit I was wrong. I swallow my pride, lean into Jesus, and apologize for letting my flesh take over. In these moments, I can totally identify with Paul when he says, “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭7:18-19‬ ‭NLT‬‬


Sometimes, the best thing to say is nothing. In that moment of remaining still and quiet, we can tap into the Holy Spirit who reminds us that actions always speak louder than words.  I’ll be the first to say that talk is cheap. You don’t always have to be the loudest voice to make the biggest impact. It’s the small, everyday actions that speak volumes. What do your words and actions say about you?


Proverbs 17:27 says, “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge...”


Some things are just better left unsaid.


© Jill Cook, Unbroken & Undone Ministries. All rights reserved.


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