3:318 – The Unsent Letter

#faithbites #faithjourney unsent

Setting

Many years ago, I had a supervisor who, in my opinion, wasn’t very supportive. He told me that I would never have the job I wanted because I wasn’t faculty. He saw who I was and not the promise of who I could become.

Since then, I have moved into faculty development, been involved in national organizations, and finished my Doctorate in Education. As long nwas getting close to finishing, I have been crafting a letter from my head to him. It’s not about gloating but to show that what he said stuck with me and I used it to motivate me.

This letter may not ever be sent. It’s in my head and I wonder if I should send it.

How often to we have thoughts on our hearts that we don’t share? How would we live and act if we shared them with love and understanding?

Scripture

• Ephesians 4:29 – Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
• Psalm 141:3 – Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
• Psalm 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Reflection

We are told to share our testimony with others. Jesus also tells us to love in communion with one another and not have division. The question is how do we deal with powerful emotions? When do we send the letter and when don’t we? This is a challenge and not something that is easily answered.

There is no right or wrong answer on what to do with unsent letters. We can keep the feelings in our head, we can share them with Jesus, we can share them with others. Where the bible is clear is that we should only use our words for love, understanding, and kindness. We need to seek out God and ask him to watch our our words.

For me, this unsent letter to my former boss, is one of many on my heart. I don’t know what I will do with it but I do know I will share this with God and ask for help and direction.

As always, take these words on your heart and find a way through Jesus to share them.

Challenge

What unsent letter are you holding onto? Is it feelings for someone? Is it moving forward on a job or new adventure? Have you been wronged in one way or another? Pray on those words. Share them with God. He will help you decide on when to share and when not too. He will also give you the right words to use.

Prayer

Father God, help us with our said and unsaid thoughts. Let our messages be heard in the spirit in which they were intended. Lord, help us to know when to share and when not to share with others.

God, we know you are always listening to us and nothing we can say to you is beyond your power to support and heal us. Lord, we pray, that you give us the discernment to handle the unsent letters in our heads. Thank you for always being with us and always helping us. In your name, Amen.