Be Quick to Listen by Brittany Nelson

14 Apr Be Quick to Listen by Brittany Nelson

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.

 

The book of James offers amazing insight for everyday life. The scripture above is so essential to maintaining strong friendships. It is easy for us to think only about ourselves in friendship. We want our friends to listen to our drama and to our good news. We want their advice and their support. But we cannot forget that they need us too. James is right when he tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Forgetting to listen can hurt our friendships. If we don’t know how our friends are feeling, we cannot support them. If we always talk and never listen, it could result in a miscommunication or misunderstanding with our friends.

Have you ever had a fight with a friend because of a misunderstanding? Did you ever get mad at someone only to find out later that you completely misinterpreted what she said? That you ended up having a fight because you didn’t listen?

Miscommunication is a big problem in modern society because so much communication is done impersonally. Texting and emails can be a terrible way to communicate even though they are easy and efficient. Many times you cannot read someone’s tone over text or email. You could write something that sounds one way to you, but is received completely differently. If you need to have a serious conversation with someone, it should be over the phone. Speaking directly to your friend lets you connect on a deeper level. It also allows you to listen and respond to your friend’s feelings or ideas so that your conversation does not result in a misunderstanding.

Friendships are important so remember to listen. Instead of only talking about yourself, ask your friend how she feels and try to see situations from her perspective. If you have a disagreement, remember that everything could be the result of a small miscommunication. Be patient and try to understand rather than getting angry. Don’t ever forget that relationships are about give and take.

If you ever struggle in a relationship with a friend, remember to pray and read your Bible. It is amazing what insight God gives you through his word. Remember that by listening and being patient, you can experience deep and lasting friendships.

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Brittany Nelson is the co-founder of GWG. After many years of volunteering in international ministry, she became excited about helping other young women discover their passion. Brittany is a Jr. HR Generalist at a consulting firm in the DC area. She spends her free time exploring DC and going to Washington Wizards games with her husband, Paul.

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