You said, “Listen now, and I will speak. When I question you, you will inform Me.” I had heard rumors about You, but now my eyes have see You. Therefore I take back my words and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:4-6 HCSB
We all have said things that we wish we could take back. Sometimes we speak without giving thought to our words and how they will be perceived by others. There have been many times when I have “stuck my foot in my mouth” by saying something that has hurt someone’s feelings or was misunderstood in some way. I have heard people say that one should engage his brain before starting to speak.
Job was sorry for what he had said about God and for how he had questioned God and His motives for the pain and suffering he had endured. He took back his words. One can say he wants to take back his words, but once hurtful words have been verbalized, they are hard to retrieve. It is like starting down a hill on a roller coaster and wishing to disembark. Once the ride begins, it is too late to turn back. The course must be finished and the consequences of such a decision endured.
Challenge: Be careful what you say. Think before you speak or you may regret it. Ask God to help you to be mindful of your words and to always speak truthfully in a way that encourages others. If you speak positively about others, you will not have to worry about taking back your words.