A Time for Silence

I can think of so many times when I should have kept silent, but I just had to speak. On more than one occasion, I have said something, and the moment it left my lips, I thought, Why did I just say that? But I said it.

Have you ever been in a situation where you wanted to say the perfect thing, but instead, you ended up saying the lamest thing possible?

It reminds me of when Peter, along with James and John, witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus’ face and clothes were suddenly shining like the sun, and Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus. As this conversation was taking place, Peter blurted out, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here . . . ” (Mark 9:5). Mark includes this interesting commentary: “He did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid” (verse 6).

But Peter wasn’t quite finished. He said, “Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (verse 5).

I wonder if Moses turned to Jesus and asked, “Who is that guy?”

“Oh, that is Rock. Never mind.”

How easily thoughts can jump into our minds, and we just say them without thinking. But how much better it is to think about it a moment and ask ourselves, Is this the right thing to say? Would this be an appropriate statement to make? Would this glorify the Lord?

As the old proverb says, “Better to be silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

There is a time to speak. And there is a time to be quiet.