Holy Hesitation
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
(James 1:19 NKJV)
A more complete title to my writing is “Holy Spirit Hesitation.” I define this moment of hesitation as the pause that should occur between someone speaking and your answering to allow the Holy Spirit time to talk to your spirit and prevent you from sticking your foot in your mouth.
Credit for this idea goes to a wonderful man, Bob Kelso, who regularly teaches the Cornerstone Bible study group I attend on Sunday mornings. He spoke on this principle one morning and it really impacted me.
Someone said we more often listen with the intent to reply, not to hear. While the person is speaking, we are formulating our answer. Or, we respond impulsively or in anger when it is something we don’t like to hear, behavior which in turn causes more drama and angst.
Instead, it is good to pause and give the Holy Spirit a chance to intervene.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1 NIV).
The tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself (James 3:6 NLT).
I am sure the apostle Peter wished many times he had paused and thought before impetuously opening his mouth. He once had the audacity to rebuke Jesus. “He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Mark 8:32-33 NIV).
But then, in his defense, he did not have the Holy Spirit operating in him at first. This anointment only came after Pentecost. But Peter did have the living Lord standing by his side, giving him the “seriously dude?” look whenever he blurted something out.
Peter also has the unenviable honor of being interrupted in mid-speech by both God the Father and God the Son. On the mount of Transfiguration, God the Father interrupted him while he was suggesting the apostles build tabernacles for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.
Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him! (Matthew 17: 4-5 NKJV).
Jesus cut Peter off and told him, in no uncertain terms, to be quiet when Peter tried to dissuade Jesus from going to the cross (see Mark 8:32-33 above). Peter was probably also speaking when the Holy Spirit arrived at Pentecost. But Peter proclaimed one of the greatest truths in the Bible when he responded to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16 NIV).
The moral of the story is to pause and allow God to speak to you before you respond. That way the fruits of the Spirit will be evident in your life and you will spread peace not drama.
A person's words can be a source of wisdom, deep as the ocean, fresh as a flowing stream (Proverbs 18:4 NLT).
