A Time to be Silent

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)

These familiar words are comforting and give perspective to a lot of situations, many of which are listed in the verses that follow. For example, verse 7 mentions that there is a time to be silent and a time to speak. How true is that? That wisdom can save us a lot of trouble.

I have found that wisdom practically helpful in the work of apologetics. As much as I wish to share my faith or speak up when I see error or answer those who question my faith, I have learned that sometimes it is better to be quiet. I am referring to situations when someone is being unreasonable and/or insincere. You may have had encounters like this either in person or online. In those moments, it is wise to be silent. That is not always easy. I sometimes feel like I am missing important opportunities or not standing up for what I believe in. What helped was seeing that there are verses in the book of Proverbs that show why it’s a good idea to be silent in these situations. They gave me insight that took away the pressure of saying nothing. I have reviewed some of these relevant proverbs in a new article in Defense for Our Hope. It is Apologetics and the Wisdom of Proverbs. I hope you find it helpful when you face similar situations.

“… A time to be silent and a time to speak.” Ecclesiastes 3:7b (NASB)