“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
When I start looking for a verse to share about every month in this chapter, it is very hard for me to get past this one. There are 32 other verses, and they’re all great. But if there is one that reflects the wisdom God has given me over the years, it may be best reflected here. When I first started reading this, I used to expect other people’s responses to determine my responsibility to obey this truth. I learned that just because I give a gentle answer, not everyone will respond in kind. But more often than not, when I keep my voice calm and my response rooted in kindness and a desire for relationship, it does impact how the other person responds. Occasionally, I would seek to bless or minister to another person through a gentle response, and it didn’t have that impact on them. But what I learned was that it had a tremendous impact on my soul, regardless of how they responded. I don’t know why an adult would ever raise their voice at another adult. I’m involved in a couple of situations at the moment where it seems the other person’s singular goal is to get me to elevate my voice in anger to their level. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit has given me the ability not to allow that to happen. It has made my life more peaceful, and it has impacted the overall outcomes in all areas. Today, speak with Jesus’ voice. #BeTheEdge
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 NIV
