GUARD MY WORDS
Today's reading: Job 17-20, 1 Corinthians 6, Psalm 131

"Then Job spoke again, How long will you torture me? How long will you try to break me with your words?" Job 19:1 NLT

I've long admired Job's friends.

Not that they arrived on the scene after a friend's catastrophes.

Or that they would make the effort to travel to their friend's side.

Or that they were used by God to direct us.

Or that they were able to share Hallmark-worthy bits of advice.

But that when they first arrived on the scene, they said nothing for seven days and seven nights.

Seven days of silence.

Unimaginable to a gal like me!

But then they spoke...and they should have kept quiet.

I so don't want to be like Job's friends.

I don't ever want my words to add to the misery of another.

I don't ever want my advice to sound uncaring, unloving or insensitive.

I don't ever want to hurt another with my words.

But I am sure I have. I am doubly sure I have mis-spoke. I am positive I have communicated judgement on another's plight. I am guaranteed to have said words that cut deeply and inflicted pain.

And I give those instances to God.

For Him to right. To correct. To un-do. To heal.

And while He does that for me, I will practice sitting quietly.