SILENCE IS GOLDEN

Proverbs 17:28 - Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. 

I can vividly remember one quiet evening; I had cried my eyes out. I was down in the dumps, feeling so empty and troubled at heart. I had been continuously ill, had missed a lot of lectures, and was living in fear that I was accursed. My roommate had attempted consoling me; she kept on babbling about why I needed to be strong and cease crying. How it was wrong for me to behave as though God was not on my side, and how I needed to take my mind off my present condition. All she said was mere noise in my ears. To me, she was rubbing it in. Her words felt like a knife that was turning in my wound. I wanted to scream at her to shut up, but there was no strength in me. I was virtually spent. All I could do was cry out my emptiness, which I did passionately. 'No one understands,' I kept mumbling. 

Then a cousin of mine popped in to visit. He saw I was distressed and came to sit by me, he didn't utter a word, and all he did was give me a hug. As he held me, I let out uncontrollable sobs, he rubbed my back and said repeatedly -'all is well.' I felt tremendously consoled. Within minutes, I’d wiped my eyes, and started to share my emptiness in words. He listened attentively. His silence and rendered attention meant so much to me. I felt a new surge of strength within me. I suddenly felt ready to move on. This day taught me a vital lesson that silence consoles and is golden. 

There are times that we are put in a difficult position of having to comfort someone mourning. Such times are precious and our words and actions can ease or add to their pain. When we are not certain of what to say; when they already know all we can say, let's learn to sit silently with them. Such silent re-assurance speaks volumes. Words can be cumbersome when we are mourning. But there is a comforting touch in silence shared in love. God loves Jesus, but when Christ was on the cross, God was silent. There wasn't much He could say to ease Jesus' pain at that moment. The pain Jesus was facing was much needed, as much as it tore at God's heart, He could only console Him in silence. There is a pain no man can heal except the Spirit of God. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will be our comforter. When we have to console someone, let's ask God's Spirit to help us. In doing so, He'll give us the words to say, or will simply beckon to us to silently console or mourn with our loved ones. 

The power of silence to console is beyond our comprehension. We must discern when to exercise this power, and explore its wonders. Ecclesiastes 3:7b - There is a time... to be silent and a time to speak.