A soft answer turneth away wrath:
but grievous words stir up anger.
Proverbs 15:1 KJV
In the blink of an eye, a discussion can turn into a heated argument. This often happens with spouses if one blames the other for a problem or incident. Suddenly, the man you love is accusing you of something you didn’t do or making an observation that puts you on the defensive. It’s natural to want to defend yourself or get in the last word. Feeling hurt, you strike back in fiery indignation with harsh words. Consequently, you find yourself in the middle of an argument that could have been avoided if you had simply refused to argue or given a soft reply to his accusation. Many broken relationships might have been saved if one of the participants had communicated their feelings in a quiet, gentle manner.
Do you often find yourself saying words you wish you could take back, words you would never have spoken under different circumstances? Do you hate the arguments that cut a rift in your relationships? Solomon in all his wisdom must have known about the old saying “It takes two to argue.” He said a soft answer would turn away someone’s anger, but harsh words would just stir it up. God is able to give us soft answers even if we’re in the middle of painful discussions. Ask Him to change your speech and your attitude.
Father, help me not to speak harsh words. Instead, give me soft answers that will turn away wrath and prevent pain. Amen.
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Today’s reading was adapted from Daily Wisdom for Women: 2017 Devotional Collection with permission from Barbour Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading was written by Vickie Phelps.