Ready to Burst

I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know. For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me; inside I am like bottled up wine, like new wine skins ready to burst. I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply. Job 32:17-20

Job was sick with severe sores. His livelihood, children and health were devastatingly taken away. He was stripped of everything he held dear. His three friends now tell Job that his sins brought these things on.

Toward the end of the book, Job’s fourth ‘friend’ entered the picture to speak his mind after the others had exhausted their words. Job refuted everything before now.

Oddly enough, in just a few chapters and after God addressed Job, God told Eliphaz (one of the earlier speakers) that he and his two friends had misspoken the truth about Him. Elihu, the fourth friend is not mentioned. Why? I don’t know. The commentaries vary on their interpretation of this. However, today, I simply wanted to focus on the fact that Elihu felt powerfully sure that he must speak.

We all have the need to voice the deep truths of our hearts. It is one of the reasons I write this blog. Writing is like breathing to me. Sometimes, I simply must say what I feel God is laying on my heart.

However, have you ever been in a conversation and while the other person is speaking, you vehemently prepare what you want to say? And when the other person takes a breath to pause, you dive in headfirst with all your might. Yes, you feel you must say these things, but you probably shouldn’t. I am most guilty of this.

My mind gets stirred up, “This person is mistaken. It would be wrong for me not to speak up. I feel ‘led’ to speak.”

And so here come a flood of words all bottled up inside. The conversation turns into a war of words, a wall of defense and a desire to win. Neither is learning from the other.

If it’s close family or friends, sometimes the words can be pent up emotions or spewing of feelings.

There seems to be a dilemma between the need to speak and the need to show wisdom in silence and in hearing the other person’s heart.

The listener I draw out of my heart wins so much more than the eloquent fighter in me (who’s always ready and willing to come out)!

One thing I respect about Elihu is that he waited until the others were completely finished with their speeches. And when he began to speak, he was respectful and courteous. (I can learn from him.)

When we speak our hearts, a lot of times the words are full of drama. We want to be heard, so we are loud and, sometimes disrespectful, as if our anger will cause the other person to stop and change their viewpoint! Most of the time, our approach simply drives them away. And our ‘calling’ to speak doesn’t feel so much like a calling as it did before. We feel more ashamed than elated at our ‘obedience.’

When a calling truly comes, with God leading the way to our words, the outcome may still be unpleasant, but we are blessed with a sense of peace that right has been accomplished. Sometimes, as God speaks through us, the outcome can be pretty awesome, to His praise.

Can you imagine the humble and honest pleadings of a concerned spouse or friend who speak truths that may not necessarily be easy to hear, yet needful? What about the preachers and ministers (among us or even inside us) that God raises up to share His words with the world? And sometimes, these words aren’t what our listeners want to hear.

Truth, when spoken or revealed, is for the glory of God and inspiration of the hearers, not for the glory of the speaker.

Some good examples in the Bible are Peter (on the day of Pentecost), Jeremiah and, of course, Jesus, the son of God, who always spoke clear and truthful words.

Jeremiah 4:19 says, “Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me, I cannot keep silent.”

And Jeremiah 20:9 said, “His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”

There are times we should refrain from expressing our hearts when we are being passionately provoked to speak (by Satan), but then there are absolute times we should obey the voice of God who prompts us to open our mouths with His truth.

Urgently, this obedient act includes the precious, loving words we forget to say or are too busy to say or we ‘never got the chance.’ These would be the heartfelt things we feel about each other.

Positive emotional blessings upon those around us are words that beg to come out of our mouths and be heard. “I miss you” “I love you so much!” “You are so dear to me.” “I know the Lord; I want you to know Him, too. He is good!”

Father, remind me always to speak my heart to you. For you are my God. You are my first love. I want always to be spilling over with my grateful and loving feelings in your presence. I want others to know you well. Help my life and my words to speak of you. Give me insight and discernment when I open my mouth to say what you put on my heart. Give me listening ears to hear your prompting of others to speak to me. Make us prosper in drawing others to you. In Jesus name, Amen.