Wisdom for When You Speak Up
When emotions run high, and words come fast, wisdom invites us to slow down. In this episode, discover how God teaches us when to speak and when silence is the wiser choice.
When emotions run high, and words come fast, wisdom invites us to slow down. In this episode, discover how God teaches us when to speak and when silence is the wiser choice.
Have you ever said something too quickly and wished you could take it back?
We all have. Sometimes we speak out of frustration, fear, or just raw emotion, and the aftermath leaves us wishing we’d paused before we hit “send.”
In this episode, Bart shares the story of President Abraham Lincoln’s unsent “hot letter” after Gettysburg, a moment when he felt intense frustration but chose restraint instead of reaction. His decision to hold his tongue became a powerful picture of wisdom in action.
Through Lincoln’s story and the truth of Proverbs 17:27, you’ll discover that wisdom isn’t just about what we say, it’s also about when we say it, how we say it, and sometimes choosing not to say anything at all.
Main Scripture:
Proverbs 17:27 (NLT) –
“A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.”
By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why slowing down is one of the wisest things you can do
- How emotions can cloud, but the Spirit can clarify, your response
- The power of pausing before you speak
- How wisdom shapes both your words and your witness
Today’s Challenge:
Before you respond to anything emotional today, pause and pray:
“Lord, help me speak with wisdom, or help me hold my peace if that honors You more.”
Let the Holy Spirit guide your timing, your tone, and your words.
Encouraged by today’s devotion?
Share this episode with someone who might need a reminder to slow down and seek God’s wisdom.
https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/122
And if this podcast has helped you, please follow and leave a review. It helps more people find encouragement.
https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/reviews/new/
Want to keep these devotions coming? Please consider supporting this podcast.
https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/support/
Connect with Bart
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dailydevotionsforbusylives
Website: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com
Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.
Track 1 00:00:01
Right after Gettysburg, President Lincoln was fuming. He
Track 1 00:00:05
was frustrated that General George Meade hadn't crushed
Track 1 00:00:08
Lee's retreating army. He sat down and pointed it out in a
Track 1 00:00:12
letter. Your golden opportunity is gone, and I am distressed
Track 1 00:00:18
immeasurably because of it. Then, he folded the note, slid it into
Track 1 00:00:23
an envelope, and wrote across it to General Meade, never sent or
Track 1 00:00:28
signed. He didn't mail it. Why would Lincoln hold his tongue at
Track 1 00:00:33
a moment like that?
Track 1 00:00:40
too short, or too emotionally, and later, wished we could grab
Track 1 00:00:45
the words back.
Track 1 00:00:50
Wisdom doesn't just shape what we say. It shapes the timing and
Track 1 00:00:51
the tone behind it. Proverbs 17: 27 too fast, too sharply, or too
Track 1 00:00:55
emotionally and later, wished we could grab the words back.
Track 1 00:00:58
Wisdom doesn't just shape what we say, it shapes the timing and
Track 1 00:01:03
the tone behind it. Proverbs 17.27 says, A truly wise person
Track 1 00:01:10
uses few words. A person with understanding is even-tempered.
Track 1 00:01:15
God is reminding us that wisdom doesn't scream out, it's
Track 1 00:01:20
measured. It knows how to pause, breathe, and speak with
Track 1 00:01:25
understanding instead of reaction. Lincoln had a practice
Track 1 00:01:28
for moments like this, what biographer Doris Kearns Goodwin
Track 1 00:01:32
calls his hot letters. He'd write in the heat of the moment,
Track 1 00:01:37
let the emotions cool, then choose wiser words, or sometimes
Track 1 00:01:42
no words at all. That unsent rebuke to Meade stayed in his
Track 1 00:01:46
desk, their relationship stayed intact, and the country kept
Track 1 00:01:49
moving forward with a steady hand to the helm. It's a master
Track 1 00:01:53
class in restraint. Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can
Track 1 00:01:57
say is the thing you decide not to send.
Track 1 00:02:14
Proverbs points us to a better way. Another way, a wise person
Track 1 00:02:27
uses few words. A person with understanding is even tempered.
Track 1 00:02:32
That means, before we speak, we pause long enough for our
Track 1 00:02:37
emotions to settle so our words can honor God instead of venting
Track 1 00:02:42
in our flesh. So let me ask you, how many conflicts in your life
Track 1 00:02:47
would look different if you just waited a few hours? Or maybe
Track 1 00:02:51
even a few minutes? How much regret could be avoided if we
Track 1 00:02:55
practiced the spiritual discipline of silence before we
Track 1 00:02:58
speak? know, wisdom isn't passive. It's intentional. It
Track 1 00:03:03
asks the Holy Spirit, Lord, help me say the right thing, in the
Track 1 00:03:08
right way, and at the right time. And sometimes God answers that
Track 1 00:03:12
prayer by nudging us to not say anything at all. Here's today's
Track 1 00:03:17
challenge. Before you respond to something emotionally, pause.
Track 1 00:03:22
Write it out if you need to. And pray over it. Then, ask God,
Track 1 00:03:27
does this need to be said? Does it need to be said now? Does it
Track 1 00:03:32
need to be said by me? Or, does it even need to be said at all?
Track 1 00:03:37
Let the Holy Spirit guide your timing, not your frustration.
Track 1 00:03:41
Lord, give us the wisdom to know when to speak and when to be
Track 1 00:03:45
silent. Slow our reactions and soften our tone. And help our
Track 1 00:03:51
words reflect your heart. Teach us to speak life, not hurt. In
Track 1 00:03:56
Jesus' name, amen. Thanks for joining me today on Daily
Track 1 00:04:00
Devotions for Busy Lives. Remember, wisdom isn't just
Track 1 00:04:04
about what you say, but when and how you say it. Come back next
Track 1 00:04:08
time for more encouragement to help you live grounded in God's
Track 1 00:04:12
truth. Until then, God bless and have a great day.
