Like a Mouse?

Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

Very few of you truly know me, know what goes on behind the blue eyes, the struggles, the desires, the fronts I put up just like all of you. Some of you know the longing I have for the peace of the secluded country life like I grew up with, this present city life breeds anxiety and anger in me. Some of you know the introvert I am, yet an extrovert when it comes to talking about my faith. What I see in my nation, in people, in a society headed to Hell, makes me want to pull off social media, turn off TV, and take my family into the middle of nowhere to hide from it all. Life could be more enjoyable if I ignored so much of what is going on, yet I can’t, because God wired me to speak up, to be a voice, and with that comes suffering for my faith from my enemy. If you knew the level of sin I struggle with, you would never listen to me, but if I knew yours, I might not speak to you. God extends us all a level of mercy we cannot comprehend, he withholds the punishment we deserve for a time, until Judgement Day. He has given us grace on a level of love we cannot comprehend, coming and dying for our sins to enable a reunion of his creation, to grant us eternal paradise to those whom he calls with tugs on their hearts.

Do you get mad at what you see too? Do you want to hide like me, yet just can’t be quiet? Are you brave enough to speak up, or does something in your heart hurt when you keep silent? You might be grieving the Holy Spirit by keeping quiet in your circle of influence. Don’t lash out, like that mean little voice inside of you wants you to. Say a little prayer for the words to speak, and speak them in love. Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. It is beyond hard to do, both to not raise cain at what angers you, but to speak softly in love to those lost in sin, or just struggling in any evident way before you. Remember you were lost too before God used someone to reach out to you.

The more time you spend with God in prayer and his Word, the more you cannot keep silent in your faith. The less the time, the more like a mouse you become. Be bold, don’t try to contain what God places on your heart. Matthew 10:27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. All your life revolves around your faith, whether you realize it or not. You are what you believe at the core, and your actions reveal what you say you believe. What do they say about you?