I’m a talker. I always have been. And for some people in my life, my talking is a little too much for them to bear. I’ve said too much, too little, and more than I should. But sometimes, even Jesus can use my talking.
Let me explain. I’m pretty much an open book. When the Lord tells, heals, or provides hope for me, I’m going to share it. A couple of weeks ago, I was dealing with a situation and I just felt the need to share what God was teaching me on my personal Facebook page. The post wasn’t specific but covered what the Lord was teaching. Seems simple enough, right?
Wrong.
As I was typing the truth that God had shown me, my body shook. Thoughts similar to these ran rampant through my mind:
What if so and so sees this and takes it the wrong way?
What if my unbeliever friends find it offensive or crazy?
What if I cause trouble with these comments?
I hesitated for hours before I finally clicked “Share.” Afterward, I was shocked to see the response from others. That post wasn’t ignored. Instead, my lesson from Jesus proved to be words of encouragement for others dealing with a similar situation. As a matter of fact, after a few days, someone came to hug and thank me for my words.
But to think, those “what ifs” were cluttering my mind so much that I almost chose to forgo it and move on with my day. On this side of things, I realize that Satan was the one trying to distract and persuade me into not acting on what the Lord had put in my heart.
You see, that’s how the enemy works. He wants to cloud our minds, cast doubts, and send worry well on its way to overtaking us, especially when he knows the Lord has a bigger plan for our testimony. And if we’re not careful, he’ll succeed in taking our joy too.
It may seem silly to some for me to put this much thought into a Facebook post. But if I had listened to the enemy’s voice, I would have missed out on the encouragement God had intended for someone else.
It made me think.
Why are we afraid?
Why are we afraid of naysayers and negative human beings?
Why do we act like it is the “end all” if someone doesn’t like us for speaking the truth?
Why don’t we instantly choose to magnify the Maker of the universe?
I often forget that I am not created to be a quiet doll on a shelf. Rather, as believers, we are made to declare the truth and rejoice! We are more than conquerors. If Jesus says jump, we’d better jump. If He says tell of His great works, we’d better get to shouting or typing out His truth. People need to see and know of the hope, truth, and love that is found in the cross. And if not through our obedience, how will others know the goodness of God?
I like to think about the story of Esther when the enemy is attacking me in this way. What if she would have stayed quiet? She could have chosen to stay in her room and mope about the plan to kill her people. Her life was on the line, why shouldn’t she just stay out of it?
No, instead she heeded her cousin’s encouragement in Esther 4:14 and realized that she was “born for such a time as this.”
History was changed because of her bravery. Wouldn’t it be cool when someone writes your story if you had the same legacy?
I know that God has a plan for all of us and the words we speak. Maybe He’s using you to speak out against abortion or human trafficking to save the life of one. Maybe your encouragement is what is needed to save someone on the brink of harming themselves. Maybe your Facebook-posted testimony is the courage someone needed to share their own.
Words are powerful. Luke 6:45 reminds me of this. It says:
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
What’s in your heart? Are you bravely thankful and praising your Maker? Or are you shying away due to the people who “might” take offense? Don’t let the enemy hold your praise back. Let it flow and magnify Him through your word and testimonies...even if it comes in the form of a Facebook post.
We say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Psalms 13:6
This was originally posted on The Stand.
