Choosing a Listener

Similar to how dirt or bacteria need to come out of a physical wound, negative emotions, painful memories and unanswered questions need to come out in order to avoid long-term bitterness of soul, resentment and destructive anger.

One way of cleansing your heart is to express your pain to a special kind of person. A listener! Choose this person carefully.

This person needs to keep what you share confidential. Often people who have good intentions try to tell you how to fix a problem. At this stage, you need a listener only. You may need to remind this person to just listen rather than try to advise you. However, there is a difference between a person asking questions to help you talk and giving advice. Asking questions to help you share is good if you agree.
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A person’s thoughts are like water in a deep well, but someone with insight can draw them out. Proverbs 20:5