A Soft Answer
A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1
The Bible really is our handbook for relationships. God created humans and therefore knows everything there is to know about communication. He realizes the conflicts that we will have and has the answers on how to resolve the most difficult of situations.
There are many times that God will speak to us (in our hearts) specifically about how to respond, but the wisdom and principles found in the Bible are for us all to live by. The wisdom of this verse is a perfect example of that.
Think about a disagreement or conflict that you have had. If you fire back an insult for an insult, does the situation get better or worse? You might feel good for speaking your mind at the moment, but that harsh word will never bring peace. Instead, it stirs up anger.
When Bryce and I were first married, he would stir up a heated discussion by hammering his point over and over again. I, on the other hand, have never liked conflict or heated arguments. Therefore, I would calmly state that I was done talking about whatever it was. I would rather ignore the issue, which is also not good, than having an argument. Either way, it’s no fun to argue with yourself, so any discussion that could have gotten heated simply fizzled out. I’m not sure if I was aware of this verse, but it worked either way.
Next time you find yourself in a heated discussion, remember that a calm, soft answer will squelch anger. When you respond in peace and love, you allow God to come on the scene and work on your behalf. Let Him fight your battles, and everyone will come away winners.
Dear Lord, you know my situations. Help me hand my concerns to You and follow your wisdom to resolve any conflict. Amen.