May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Ps. 19:14)
Time magazine selected as Persons of the Year for 2002 the whistleblowers—three women of Enron, WorldCom, and the FBI who confronted their superiors with errors in the system—flaws that later proved detrimental in every case. When interviewed, each was asked if she felt like a hero. “Oh, no,” replied one of them. “I was raised to tell the truth and to stand up for what’s right. Isn’t that what this country is about?”
Like these brave whistleblowers, Jesus revealed the power to change bad situations by using positive confrontation. He refused to keep truth to himself and didn’t mince words. He said things like, “Do you want to be healed?” “Where is your husband?” “Who do you think I am?” He always respected the dignity of those He spoke to but didn’t always try to be polite when it came to getting to the root of the problem.
Unless we learn the fine art of positive confrontation, change will not take place, individually or in our world. Conversations we know we need to have—but are afraid to—will keep us from the healing that “the truth shall set you free” brings. Praying for God to make the words of our mouths pleasing in His sight will spark those needed conversations. Say what needs to be said and leave the results to our Rock and Redeemer.
Pray for courage and follow-through and then say what needs to be said.
Susan Browning Schulz is a wife and active mom of three grown children. She lives riverside in northwest Georgia and loves leading her small group.
