We're all okay

For the full context of this post read Proverbs 20:5.

We’ve all seen the news reports after a violent crime. Neighbors, family, and friends say, “He seemed like such a nice guy. I never suspected it.” In today’s day and age many of us have been impacted directly or indirectly by the horrible effects of abuse, or worse yet, suicide. These tragedies are often unexpected and hidden from those who would help if they only knew. Proverbs provides us a wisdom key for sharing our feelings and supporting others with theirs.

5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,

but one who has insight draws them out (Proverbs 20:5, NIV).

We have the capability to bury our thoughts into deep waters. We build brick walls around our hearts, dig deep moats, and fill the trenches with alligator infested waters. We use cactus for the doorknobs to our hearts. We live in the world of okay. I’m okay. You’re okay. We’re all okay. Except that we’re not.

Use the wisdom key in Proverbs 20 to be brave enough to share your feelings with someone else. When a friend asks how you are, don’t just tell them that you are okay. Let that person dive deep into the waters of your heart where you’ve buried the shipwrecked dreams. Trust a friend or two with how you are really feeling. Let them into your heart.

Use the wisdom key in Proverbs 20 to be intentional about drawing out what’s inside of someone else. Make it a point to connect on a level deeper than just being okay. Build relationships. You may never know how much someone needs your support unless you are willing to invest in relationships which are deeper than the surface.

Use the wisdom key in Proverbs 20 to develop insight. Who are you fooling? And who’s fooling you? It might be that someone wants to share their heart with you, but you haven’t asked the right questions. It might be that you want to share your heart with someone if only someone would ask you the right questions. Knowing the right questions is like knowing the combination of a lock. If you are just one number off, the lock won’t open. If the right question isn’t phrased exactly right, hearts won’t be open. It seems petty; we’re not mind readers! But our hearts are the most fragile thing that we have, so we guard them at all costs.

Learn to use insight to draw out what is in the deep waters of the heart, and share what is deep within yours. Getting this wisdom key right has potential to save a life.