Proverbs 11:12

People without good sense find fault with their neighbors, but those with understanding keep quiet.

Holding your peace keeps you from venting your acrimony and also from kindling it in others. It is a very wise person who can hold their tongue. And think of how much peace it keeps to do so.

We so badly want to talk about others, probably for the reason I was given in third grade, “to make yourself feel better by putting others down.” It’s been shown scientifically that “venting” actually does us no good. Rather, it simply recycles hurt, anger, and frustration, putting you in the place of it happening all over again. You think you’ll feel better, but it’s a myth. You’ve just fostered division on some level, the opposite of shalom. And shalom is what we seek, what our brains, hearts, and bodies want.

Let’s make our default setting to be communication directly with the person we have any issue with. Now I know this is a brand new rocket surgery idea, but let’s experiment and try this amazingly modern technique out today.

I love how Pastor Todd says, “When in doubt, over-communicate.” I’ve tried to make that my primordial action, to just call the person before anything festers. And don’t be talking to everybody else first!

Now there is such a thing as seeking wise counsel, but it is far different than contemptuously talking about someone.

John 4:31-34

Meanwhile, his followers were begging him, “Teacher, eat something.”

Jesus said, “My food is to do what the One who sent me wants me to do and to finish his work.”

It is satisfying to do what God wants us to do.
It is nourishing to finish work He gives us to complete.

For Jesus, it seems the greatest pleasure and satisfaction imaginable  was to do good to souls (Acts 10:38). For this was His Father’s work. It sustained Him.

Embrace Jesus in your weakness and hunger.

And you will be satisfied.