When You Can’t Find Your Voice

Ever had a dream where something horrible was happening and when you opened your mouth to scream, nothing came out.

I can remember having those dreams vividly as a child. One dream in particular stands out. I saw a werewolf coming out of the woods in our backyard. I ran and hid under the kitchen cabinet, screaming mute screams the whole time. #terrifying

This experience epitomizes how I feel in some situations. I often struggle to find my voice. I have thoughts trapped in my head and I am afraid to let come out of my mouth. And because I keep them in, I end up feeling frustrated and undervalued.

When someone hurts me, I often sweep it under the rug because I HATE confrontation. But I am learning this is not a healthy way to handle my hurt.

There are other times when I think, “It is just none of my business.” And sometimes it is not my business – but sometimes it is. I too often use the “none-of-my-beeswax” as an excuse for not exercising courage in confronting someone. Perhaps if I had used my voice, I could have helped them divert a damaging situation.

And yes, I know there are a multitude of verses about controlling our tongues and tempers. Maybe I have dwelt on those so long that I am gun shy about using my voice about anything.

Truth, when spoken with the right motives, is healing. I cannot drop “truth-bombs” in retaliation or to intentionally hurt someone.

The fact that I cannot find a nice, tidy scripture to wrap all this up in a bow is making my skin crawl. However, the principal of truth is all over God’s Word.

I Corinthians 13:6 does say love “rejoices in truth” rather than in wrongdoing. This scripture will hold me over as I continue to grow in the God-confidence needed to find my voice.

How do you find your voice in God-honoring ways?