Truth Bomb
To Shoo 'Negativity' is to Deny Life & Growth, Proverbs 10:17
A thought occurred to me this morning after reading my In Touch devotional. It was about accepting criticism and it made me recall the numerous amount of people who only focus on the positive. Now positivity is something a lot of us could use more often. With that said, thoughts of wood and knives entered my mind. Neither wood nor a knife will be smoothened or sharpened without a negative force against it. The kind of negativity we do not need is the sharpening which dulls a knife and leaves holes or dips in the wood. Anything is excess will not produce the desired result.
The kind of negative force I am focusing on is the kind where iron sharpens iron. The devotional instructs the reader to give an ear to criticism when given. This is not to say that it is all true or the delivery is perfect, but that we should respond well when it is given. Remember “God can take even a wrong attitude, bad timing, or harsh tone of voice and still tell us something we need to hear.” It is suggested to receive it with gratitude. I am going to put this into practice.
Some of us will respond with defensiveness or dismissiveness, both of those responses (reactions really) close our minds and our ears thereby making our hearts thicker instead of tender. Please hear me out, I am not making allowances for someone to just be rude or inconsiderate. Some people use “honesty” or “directness” as a badge for being rude and unkind. That will have to be weighed and measured for yourself, situation, and relationships. That would be the kind of negative person I would choose to no longer be around for my own sanity.
There is this one friend who seemed to not miss an opportunity to make me the butt of a joke, criticize me, or just flat out say something rude. If this happens again, I will respond with a “thank you, I will consider what you have said,” instead of removing myself or becoming silent. —>Gratitude<— I will try to hear what someone is saying with thicker skin and a tender heart, just in case God is using their poor delivery or timing to tell me something to sharpen me, mature me, or improve His reflection upon my countenance. I will take what this person has said and weigh it against truth and see if my character, behavior, or beliefs are reflecting His image or a fleshly one.
Accepting some criticism will sharpen us when it is true. The exercise of considering what has been said will mature us. The devotional said that this is “why we’re to pay attention when people judge us negatively. Invited or not, criticism gives us an opportunity to examine ourselves, take notice of weak areas, and avoid unnecessary mistakes. If we fail to listen, our potential for mental, emotional, and spiritual growth is limited.” *
Proverbs 15 begins with a remind that “a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” And the chapter ends with “He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility.” (Proverbs 15:1, 31-33, NASB1995)
Next time you begin to shoo off negativity about yourself, have an open mind and ear to examine for a nugget of truth. God might be trying to tell you something which you need to know.
As I lean into what the Lord has called me to do, write the book, I need to be prepared for the positive as well as the negative. The subject matter of discovering my father, who lovingly raised me is not my biological father, has already caused disruptions in my life. The discovery has dismantled my family tree and left me with hanging on a limb. It is a vulnerable story which will leave me open to deep feelings, unsolicited advice, and a roller coaster of emotions. The exercise in accepting criticism will go a long way to me finally completing and sharing my story.
Rebelliously His, Rachele
*August 9, 2024, “Accepting Criticism” intouch.org