I used to be someone who had to jump into every debate and argument within earshot—political, religious, cultural—you name it. And truthfully, I wasn’t even that good of a debater. I just felt the need to air my opinions. Eventually, God let me know that such an antagonistic, opinionated style was, as they say, “no bueno.”
There really is a time to be quiet. In today’s fast-paced and hostile culture, genuine long-form conversation is almost extinct. People don’t listen—they launch talking points at each other and see what sticks. If someone disagrees, the discussion often ends with offense rather than understanding.
Here’s a valuable lesson I’ve learned: if you stay silent long enough, people will often ask for your opinion. And when they do, they’ll usually be more open to hearing it. Silence can build curiosity and credibility. Another wise habit is simply to listen. When people feel safe to talk, they’ll relax and speak honestly from the heart—if they don’t feel rushed, interrupted, or attacked.
And here’s one more: if you’ve clearly shared your faith or opinion with someone, let it rest. Especially when it comes to the gospel. I’ve witnessed to people who now know exactly where I stand. The ball’s in their court. I don’t need to preach at them; I just need to pray for them. Let the Holy Spirit work on them…be willing to wait.
Silence is underrated. Everyone wants to be heard, but few want to listen. May the Holy Spirit teach us when to speak—and when to stay silent.
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I am reading this in a hospital waiting area full of quiet people…how very appropriate 😀 The older I become the more I realise how silence is precious, and under rated in today’s society. Silence is the best way to hear the Holy Spirit guiding our next step. God bless you today brother Eric 🙏
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I hope that you are doing well, brother Alan. When my Grandfather was in the hospital with a serious condition I prayed frequently in the little hospital chapel. That quiet spot was a great place to hear the Holy Spirit. Praying for you brother, have a blessed day in the Lord!👍🏻🙏
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Thank you Eric, we are fine. The hospital appointment was a scheduled routine visit/treatment for my wife, which took all day. God bless you today 🙏
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Yes, silence is underrated! Teachers are taught to give at least 3-5 seconds of wait time after asking a question before calling on a student to respond. This gives them time to process the information and formulate a response. If only we used wait time when having a discussion with other adults!
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That’s interesting, I like the 3-5 second rule…especially since everything is rushed and hurried these days. On a weird possibly related note, people are not taking full breaths anymore, even our breathing is shallow and fast. I started taking time throughout the day to take nice deep breaths and it’s made a huge difference. I’m more calm. We need more calm in the world, and more listening ears.
Have a blessed day!
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Excellent advise to remember: “…if you’ve clearly shared your faith or opinion with someone, let it rest.” I, also, am a proponent of letting silence work its magic. 🙂
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Amen! When you make bread you have to let the dough rise untouched at some point. My Dad would let it rise next to the wood stove for a good 45 minutes…and it worked magically. It takes faith to just let the process happen without anymore input from us.
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