Four years ago I went to an investor meeting, there were a thousand issues going on at the time and the company needed to go in a new direction. The people with me didn’t want me to mention that though, I can’t tell you how many times I was told to be quiet and not say a word. Just be quiet, act like everything is ok, they don’t need to know what’s really happening.
My marriage fell a part also 4 years ago, it was failing for years, the final straw was an affair. The woman involved is a public figure, when I told her husband what had happened, he responded, “Just don’t tell the media.”
Three years ago, I was attacked publicly. Someone with her own issues decided to publish lies about me all over the internet to get back at her own husband. It was not my issue, I was a tool used for revenge. When I told those in my company what was happening I was told, “Don’t worry, keep quiet, this happens to everyone on television.” My lawyers also advised, “Don’t worry about, we’ll take care of it, just be quiet.”
Just be quiet.
This week, I read a story online, another woman was victimized by the same website that hit me just a few years ago. She lost her income just like I did over someone else’s lies.
I started thinking, what is the cost of silence? How many people have been hurt because I kept quiet?
You know what I have learned over the last four years?
If someone is telling you to be quiet, it’s probably pretty likely you need to speak up.
It’s hard to speak up, it’s hard to stand up especially if you’re standing alone. In each of those three circumstances standing up for myself or for what is right would have left me alone, standing there with a voice and nothing else, just me.
But, maybe my voice is all that I need.
In Exodus 3 & 4, God calls Moses to rescue his people from the Pharaoh in Egypt. Moses essentially argues for two whole chapters which I can only assume is quite awhile in real life. God is telling Moses to go but Moses doesn’t think the people will believe him or listen to him.
Then, Moses has another excuse, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” (Exodus 4:10)
That doesn’t change the mind of the Lord so finally Moses says, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” (Verse 13)
This guy was serious, he didn’t want to stand up, he didn’t want to go. All Moses had to offer was himself, his voice and he didn’t think that was good enough. But, as it turns out, that was all God needed.
Finally, God sent Aaron to help Moses speak. God used the voice of Moses (Aaron) to lead his people out of bondage in Egypt.
Moses knew Egypt, he grew up there, he knew the bondage, he knew the Pharaoh. From what I can see, he had ran off into the wilderness and had no real intention of going back. He knew there was wrongdoing there, he keep quiet until God said enough.
What if God is saying enough?
God needed the voice of Moses to free his people. So think about this, what if you’re the voice of the battered wife? What if you’re the voice of the molested child? What if you’re the voice of the raped woman?
What if your the voice of the women in business who have been taken advantage of? What if your the voice of the woman who has been drug through the mud because of someone else’s lies? What if your the voice of a broken home? What if you’re the voice of depression?
What if…just follow me here…what if YOU are the voice that will lead others held in that exact same bondage to the Promised Land?
What would happen if you let God use you to be a voice, to stand up when no one else is standing?
What if you are the Moses to others now going through exactly what you have been through?
We can’t be silent. The cost is too high.
People die thinking they are alone, people get hurt because we say nothing. Turning a blind eye is not the same as turning the other cheek. God’s people were not called to be blind to the wrongdoings of this world.
We can lead the hurting to Christ, we can show them the light that shines bright in us that says, “you’re going to make it.” We can tell them they are not alone. Maybe God is calling you to be a voice to the hurting. Maybe what you went through, God is going to use to shake the ground and set his people free.
It’s time to speak up, church. This is what we are called to do, it’s time to set God’s people free.
Sarah Ann is an author, speaker and media personality committed to honesty, vulnerability and authenticity. She has a passion for empowering people who are willing to be honest and walk out life in Christ together. Sarah holds a Bachelors in Biblical Studies and a Masters in Theology and Apologetics, she also owns a clothing company, Ascent516.com and is the creator of SarahAnnSpeaks.com and the Sarah Ann Speaks Podcast. Sarah is featured daily on GEB TV.
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