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YOU'D BE BETTER OFF NOT VENTING
PROVERBS 29:11 NKJ
11 A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back.
My NKJ version says a fool vents all his feelings. The NIV says fools give full vent to their rage. The NLT, fools vent their anger. A dictionary definition of vent is "forceful expression or release of pent-up thoughts or feelings."
We live in a day where "venting" is considered a healthy thing to do. Just let it all out. Don't bottle it up. Don't hold back.
Yet, the wisdom of God says that a wise man does not vent his pent-up feelings and thoughts. A wise man holds them back.
So, who is right? God or conventional wisdom? I'm going out on a limb here and say that God is right. That our creator, the One who made us and knows us better than anyone, has said don't vent.
Maybe we need to think differently about venting. When dealing with hot feelings and emotions, if we vent, they actually get stronger, not weaker.
If we hold back, they don't erupt like a volcano. Holding back actually takes the life out of the feelings. But Alan, I know people who held back and just blew up. So, do I. But they weren't holding back, in their minds they were going over the feelings and emotions again and again. Over and over. Then they acted on those thoughts.
The foolish person vents. The wise person holds back. I choose the path of the wise.
APPLICATION:
Take it from a former 'venter,' holding back is the Godly and wiser option. I actually put a self-enforced policy in place not to respond to negative emails and letters until 24 hours later. My vent response was typically unkind or terse and would not honor God. My response 24 hours later after "holding back" was more Christ-like.
And we don't even want to ask Joy about how unblessed she has been by my venting.
So don't vent. Give it to God and hold back. You will be wiser, and those around you will be gladder.
PRAYER:
Dear Father, help me hold back from letting loose with negative feelings and emotions. I give them to You and trust Your way is wiser