Speak Softly

A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:1

The mouth of the righteous is a well of life (Proverbs 10:11) and is as valuable as silver (v. 20). The words of the righteous are wisdom; they are like food for those hungry to know how to live (vv. 21, 31). And most of all, the lips of the righteous are discerning, knowing what is acceptable to say (v. 32). I believe the sensitive, Spirit-led Christian can depend upon the Holy Spirit to give him freedom to speak or freedom not to speak, depending on whether the words are appropriate in the given situation.

Perhaps the most underutilized word of healing that Proverbs discusses is the “soft answer [that] turns away wrath.” It takes two people to have a heated, angry argument. If one of them decides to use a soft answer and not participate in the shouting match, the heated argument must, by definition, come to a halt. If you enter a situation where an angry argument is taking place, you can diffuse the tension and lower the decibel level by your soft words.

It is a blessing beyond description to see the spirits of a person rise, the life restored to their eyes, as a result of a healing word from your own lips.