3 AM Whispers: Slow to Speak When the Soul is Sharp
Good morning, everyone. It's Wednesday, November 12th, 2025, and it’s 3 AM here at the cypress swamp cabin overlooking the Red River in Shreveport, Louisiana. It’s been far too long since I’ve been able to connect through these posts, and truthfully, the last few weeks have been heavy as we continue to navigate the profound loss of Uncle Jerry and the demands on our time.
This morning, the quiet of the bayou is a contrast to the restlessness I feel inside. I woke up grouchy, irritable, and honestly, feeling prickly—right on the edge. I know that if anyone, even Uncle Bill, tries to talk to me this morning, I’m likely to snap back, to "bite their heads off." It’s that raw, bitter feeling that comes from managing stress and sorrow for too long.
So, what does the Bible say when you're feeling this angry, grouchy, and irritable? When your defenses are up and you know you’re liable to hurt someone with a harsh word? It tells us to stop and slow down.
We find incredibly practical wisdom in James 1:19-20:
"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."
At 3 AM, this verse gives us a clear action plan. The antidote to "biting heads off" is not just suppressing the anger, but radically slowing down our reaction time. When that sharp, irritable feeling surfaces, we must become quick to listen (to the other person, and to our own hearts), and most importantly, slow to speak.
Our human anger, especially the irritable kind that lashes out at the slightest prompt, simply doesn't produce anything good; it adds bitterness, not healing. This morning, let the quiet of this early hour be a moment to choose slowness. When the sharp words rise, pray for a pause, a breath, before you let them loose.
I'm so sorry for the long silence and that I haven't been able to post until now. I wanted to make sure I got this message out this morning. Please know you're in my thoughts and prayers as we navigate these difficult days. Have a blessed Wednesday.
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