Most of my troubles in life have come from talking too much and running my mouth. When my confidence feels shaky, I sometimes overcompensate by filling the silence with words. At first glance, this may not seem like a problem—sharing our thoughts can be good. But when the motive is to fill a void or avoid silence, it becomes something else entirely.
Silence, I’ve learned, has great value. It is a space where God can meet us. When I rush to fill it with chatter, it often leads me into unspiritual territory—gossip, complaining, venting, or conversations that open the door to unhealthy interactions. Sometimes this happens in casual conversations; other times it happens through oversharing on social media. And no matter the intention, words can be misinterpreted. As the old saying goes: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.”
The truth is, spiritual connection breeds confidence. God gives us the quiet strength that frees us from needing constant human affirmation. We don’t need to express every thought that passes through our mind. Instead, we can rest in the assurance that He knows us fully and gives us all the validation we truly need.
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” — Psalm 141:3
Closing Prayer
Lord, You know how quickly my tongue can get me into trouble. Help me to pause before I speak and to choose silence when silence honors You more. Let my words build up and not tear down. Guard my lips, Lord, and give me confidence in Your presence so I don’t need to seek approval in careless words. Amen.?
