A Fitting Reply

“Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!” Proverbs 15:23

Putting your foot in your mouth is an expression that means always saying the wrong things. My brother used to say, “The only time I open my mouth is to change feet.” Sometimes it’s better to say nothing than to say the wrong thing. But how refreshing it is to hear someone say the right thing at the right time! Sometimes when your faith is wavering or when you just need to know that God has not forgotten about you, He will send a word of encouragement that gives you hope and the strength to stay in the fight.

My brother used to hitchhike all over the country. He was dealing with a lot of issues at the time. This was before the days of cell phones and internet communication. There were times when I truly didn’t know if my brother was dead or alive. My heart was greatly troubled because of it. I admit that I had grown weary. So one day, I asked God to raise up people who would help me pray for him.

Not long after that, I received a phone call. The voice at the other end was a man I did not know who lived halfway across the country. He said, “You don’t know me, but my wife and I picked your brother up and gave him a ride down the road. Before we dropped him off, we gave him some money. In exchange, he gave us your phone number. We want you to know that we will be praying for your brother.” I broke down and cried.

A timely word can be a game-changer. The right word spoken at the right time can bring hope and encouragement and give you the strength you need to keep moving forward. Sometimes God will allow others to speak that timely word to you. Sometimes He will highlight something you are reading in the Bible or something you are listening to. And sometimes God will even use you to say the right thing at the right time.