A Word Fitly Spoken

One of the hardest things you can do is to watch a loved one make a shipwreck of their lives and not say anything. My pastor often talks about the wisdom it takes to know what to say and when to say it, because you may know exactly what they need to hear, but they may not be ready or able to receive it.

Just think about how gracious the Lord is with us. He gently leads us along, never giving us more than He knows we can bear. Of course, this is never an excuse to say nothing when you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you, but you would rather just avoid a conflict. The whole key is to be Holy Spirit led: what to say, when to say it and how. We can make all the best arguments and dump advice all we want, but if the person we’re trying to help does not have the capacity to receive it, it will not do any good. Sometimes we need to silently listen and pray. At the end of the day, we cannot control or change anyone. We cannot help anyone who does not want to be helped. We can just stand by, ready to lend a hand when they reach out. But the best thing we can do is to always pray for them, for God is the only One who can transform a heart or life.