“The words you speak reveal the content of your heart.” Matthew 12:34. This is something I remind myself often, especially after I say something I fully regret.
Until this day, I still consider myself an introvert. I tell myself I have social anxiety and that’s why I can only handle small talk and only full-on conversations with the people I’m closest too. I hide away behind my extroverted husband, and I replay every conversation I ever have, over and over in my mind. But God has worked in my heart, He has reminded me even when I forget, that I am designed and made the way I am for a reason, in His image.
Everyone has their own spiritual giftings. We function together as the body of Christ because each of us have our own strengths. We have our extroverts, whom I love! They can carry on a conversation; they can be the Mary’s in a room that make everyone feel warm and invited. Then, we have the Martha’s who work behind the scenes to make sure everything is in order. The most important thing we must never forget though, is the number one request from Jesus, and that’s to love His people well.
How are we to love his people? By being authentically who we were made to be to reach the hearts of all people for Christ. We can’t do that if we are constantly criticizing ourselves, rethinking every conversation we have had or even forcing ourselves to be someone/something we aren’t.
So, what do we do? Do we just hide from all conversation to avoid saying something we regret or stay in our social anxiety forever? No. We ask God to help us fix our thoughts on things above. We replace all the yucky feelings that we feel about ourselves and others with what He says about us and about others. We allow God’s voice to speak to us and through us. We let go of all the bitter feelings from past conversations we have had and regretted, and we forgive any words spoken to us and about us that were unkind.
We may not be able to take back our words after they are spoken, but God makes all things new, and His mercies are new every day. We can move forward, prepared to love others and be authentic with who God made us to be, knowing he made us the way we are for a reason.
We want to thank Sarah Perry for sharing this post.
Women's Ministry 