A Voice In The Wilderness

So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" - Hebrews 13:6

To speak boldly, to be certain enough to say anything confidently used to be difficult for me. Honestly, maybe it still is at times. This might be why I am drawn to writing words down instead of saying them out loud. For me, it feels a little safer to write it down.

When I write words down I find the words are thought out and much clearer and often kinder. I’ve heard that you should write like you speak, but I definitely do not do this. When I was young I could go an entire day at school without saying one word. But at home I could write journal pages of words.

Jesus said we speak from the abundance within our hearts. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)

I can’t help but wonder if this abundance, this overflow of emotion that spurs us onward to speak out loud also manifest itself in other ways. Maybe we aren’t all vocal. Maybe the abundance of my heart shows up in how I write. Maybe the abundance of your heart comes out differently. The important thing is that whatever is in our hearts will comes out.

There is so much wisdom in Proverbs 4:23:

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

A way to guard our heart is found in differentiating our true emotions and desires that are from God guiding us from the false emotions and desires that are just a human response to the world around us. The state of a healthy heart is turned towards God and His way, even the confusing ways that look unsettling and maybe unfair at the moment. It will always feel strange to pray for an enemy. It will always feel strange to communicate our words in an unfamiliar way because God is asking us to.

I will always be happier about writing words down than saying them out loud. But if I am called to express truth in some unfamiliar way I will not fear or shrink shyly away. God Himself will guides me to voice all the goodness He has placed within me. I have the option to be bold.

I can lean into the help that only God can give me. May the overflow of my heart be beautiful to hear, and easy to see, making paths straight in the wilderness. Straight to the only One who can really help.