When Job’s friends show up with lengthy discourse on the reason for his suffering he tells them, “If only you could be silent! That’s the wisest thing you could do.” Job 13:5

Keeping our mouths shut is sometimes the best thing we can do. We may have opinions, thoughts, and scriptures running around in our head like Job’s friend, Elihu, (Job 32: 18-20) in regard to a person’s situation, but it might not be the best time to speak.

Job’s friends were all trying to speak for God, chest bumping and ego wrestling with words and all Job wanted was some relief and comfort in his difficulty.

Then God showed up and said, “Get ready for a difficult task like a man; I will question you and you will inform me! Tell me, if you know it all! (Job 38:3 & 18)

In God’s presence, they all realized they didn’t know as much as they thought and in the end Job had no answer for any of God’s questions but this: “But I have declared without understanding things too wonderful for me to know.” (Job 42:3)

Sometimes the smartest thing we can do, is just be quiet!

Proverbs 17:28 “Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.”