When Silence is the Best Response
Ecclesiastes 3:7b There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.
In this age of social media, where outrageous views and falsehoods are posted millions of times each day, it’s easy to imagine that we have to show up to every argument we’ve been invited to. And yet, often, silence is by far the wisest choice.
In 1962, when U.S. surveillance discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, tensions spiked. President Kennedy’s military advisors urged an immediate strike. Then Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev sent them two letters. The first, more conciliatory, offered to remove the missiles if America pledged not to invade Cuba. The second, more aggressive, demanded the removal of U.S. missiles from Turkey.
Kennedy, wisely, chose not to respond to the second letter. Instead, he quietly accepted the terms of the first and ignored the second entirely in public, replying only to the more moderate proposal. He later privately agreed to withdraw the missiles from Turkey without public fanfare. High stakes indeed – had Kennedy escalated the situation rather than remaining silent, nuclear war may well have ensued.
Ecclesiastes 3:7 There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.
Notice that silence comes before speaking. Smart move. The point is that restraint in speech is often wiser than reacting impulsively. It’s a mark of wisdom, humility and self-control.
Even Jesus, on trial for His very life, remained silent before Pontius Pilate. He knew that God’s greater purpose was unfolding; that it wasn’t about Him in that moment, but about fulfilling God’s plan for forgiveness for you and me by dying on a cross.
Silence isn’t weakness—it’s often the highest form of wisdom. When in doubt, keep silent. See how things unfold.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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