What-Ifs Make It Hard To Speak...

I had a chance to speak up tonight.  To speak truth into hurting lives.  To offer the life-giving words I read each day and often write about here.  Where was my voice?

It was in my head wondering...
What if you hurt their feelings?
What if you offend?
What if you sound like you think you know best?
What if the words don't come out right?
What if they argue with you?
What if you make the pain worse?

But...
What if it brought healing?
What if forgiveness seemed possible after?
What if it encouraged?
What if it provoked Christ-centered searching?
What if a wall could be broken down?

Wouldn't it have been worth one person knowing God more deeply even if it strained an earthly relationship?  Even with me?

So what I didn't say tonight is that forgiveness is a choice.  We may not feel forgiving.  Our flesh craves vengeance, justice, apology, recognition.  But when you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, your Lord...

"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you." Romans 8:9

So you choose to forgive.  The Spirit living in you enables you to make that choice and to carry it out day by day.  To choose to let go of anger, to pray for an enemy, to love, to give thanks in all things.  Because Christ forgave me.  And if a blameless man can forgive all my wrongs to Him, can't I, a sinner myself, forgive one who is like me?  One who can relate to the burning flesh?

Lord, if my tongue needed to be held tonight, I thank you.  But when one is hurting and can't see the truth, I pray you'd make me brave.  Make me one who values anyone's relationship with you far above what they think of me.  Make me one who will speak your word when it seems to be drowned out of a place in which it is desperately needed.  Your word heals.  Your word gives life.  Your word is living and active.  May I never be afraid to share it with those in need...