Unclear Messages!

May 2, 2024

Unclear Messages!

Thousands and thousands of conversations with people have often had a common thread; there was hurt inflicted by unclear communication!  Unclear messages leads to your best employee abruptly quitting, your teen-age daughter withdrawing even more, your spouse considering filing for divorce. 

No matter what the person’s intent, no matter what the person’s motive, no matter who was the intended audience, unclear messages often inflict deep wounds. 

No matter what the real meaning, no matter how innocent the words, no matter how good the timing, unclear messages often leave deep confusion.

No matter what was the hope, no matter what was the desire, no matter what was the expectation, unclear messages often leave more anxiety.

I prefer messages to be clear and succinct.  I can get lost with lots and lots of words, I can get tired of too many extraneous stories, I can get confused by too much randomness.

I prefer messages to be clear and precise.  I can get perplexed with too much ambiguity, I can get distracted by too many indefinite expressions, I can get exhausted by too little focus.     

I prefer messages to be clear and honest.  I can get troubled with a lack of straightforwardness, I can get annoyed with a lack of truthfulness, I can get apathetic with a lack of consistency.

And yet, there are many of our conversations in which messages are unclear.  It makes developing and sustaining healthy and holy relationships with other people, with myself, and even with Jesus so much more difficult.

Recently, I read with interest a message that Jesus shares with the disciples.  The conversation occurs after Jesus has been raised from death to life and just before Jesus is about to return to heaven.  Jesus shares a message for the disciples to meet Him in an undisclosed place.

In Matthew 28:10 Jesus says; “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Gailee; there they will see me.”  My question is “Where in Galilee?”      

Jesus’ message seems unclear.  Remember that Galilee is a region that includes all of northern Israel.  In other words, Galilee is not a town or a specific place!  So, where were the followers of Jesus supposed to meet Jesus?

For sure, I am not questioning Jesus’ communication skills.  I just wonder how the other Christ-followers knew where to meet Jesus, when they would see Jesus, and what was planned for the meeting with Jesus.

I am sure Jesus worked everything out for the good of the Kingdom of God and for the good of His followers.  But, it is a reminder that clear messages are important.  Here are a few Bible verses that encourage us to share clear messages that speak the truth and bring glory to God.

In Psalm 15:2 we hear; “…walk blamelessly and do what is right and speak the truth from their heart…”

In Zechariah 8:16 we hear; “These are the things that you shall do: speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace…”

In Romans 9:1-3 we hear; “I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit…” 

In Ephesians 4:25 we hear; “So then, putting away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are members of one another.”

What would it look like if we committed to give more attention to sharing clear messages this week?

With a friend who is hurting.

With a friend who is worried.

With a friend who is frightened.

With you about your heart-ache.

With you about your broken dream.

With you about your difficult choice.

With Jesus about your sadness.

With Jesus about your hesitation to obey.

With Jesus about your shaky faith.

+Clear messages grow our relationships with friends and family.  I am more authentic and more accessible with other people.

+Clear messages help me be honest about me and my life.  I am more honest with and more accepting of myself.   

+Clear messages deepen our relationship with Jesus.  I am more straightforward with and more frequent in my conversations with Jesus.

When the messages are more honest and more precise and more succinct, my messages are more clear.  When love is mixed in my clear messages, there is more healing and less pain, there is more good news and less pessimism, there is more hope and less brokenness. 

Clear messages make space for more delight in my heart; a delight that the Lord God pours into me!  

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug