January 6, 2026
Daily Devotional:
“The Wisdom of Silence and Speech”
Ecclesiastes 3:7
"...a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak."Life is often a delicate balancing act between two extremes. Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, reminds us that wisdom isn't just about knowing what to do, but knowing when to do it.
In the ancient Near East, tearing one's clothes was a sign of deep mourning or righteous indignation. There are moments in life when things fall apart; when grief hits or when a toxic situation must be dismantled. However, God does not leave us in the "tear." There is an equal, appointed season for mending, for stitching back the pieces of a broken relationship, a wounded heart, or a fractured community. At times, it felt to have existed in a world that feels increasingly noisy, where we are pressured to have an immediate opinion on everything. Yet, the Bible places immense value on the "quiet spirit." Silence allows us to listen, to process, and to respect the gravity of a moment. While on the other hand speech is required when we muststand up for the truth, offer encouragement, or confess our needs. Know to differentiate one from the other and when to skillfully use these traits at a given time.
The beauty of Ecclesiastes 3 is the word "season." No season lasts forever. If you are in a time of "tearing" or "silence"right now, take heart for the season for mending and speaking is already on the horizon.
Evaluate your words and audit in your healing, before you speak today, ask yourself: "Is this the season for silence, or does this moment require my voice?" Is there something in your life you’ve been "tearing" at for too long? Perhaps it’s time to pick up the needle and thread and begin the work of mending.