Day 7
John 7:43
So there was a division among the people over him.
John 7 paints a picture that feels surprisingly familiar. Opinions about Jesus are divided. Some believe. Some doubt. Some argue. Conversations turn into debates. Motives are questioned. Voices get louder. What should have brought clarity instead exposes just how divided people really are.
At the core of much of that tension is something deeply human. All of us want to belong. We long for acceptance and connection. While our ultimate security is meant to be found in God, we still feel the pull of relationships, community, and social approval. When opinions are divided, that emotional desire to belong can sometimes speak louder than our spiritual grounding.
In moments like that, lines can blur. What we know to be true can become clouded by fear of misunderstanding, fear of rejection, or fear of standing alone. It becomes easier to form opinions based on circumstances, pressure, or popular response rather than on what Jesus has actually said. Doubt creeps in. Hesitation follows. And clarity begins to fade.
Toward the end of John 7, the debate only intensifies. People argue back and forth about who Jesus is and what should be done with Him. And in the middle of that noise, Scripture offers us a simple but challenging wisdom. We are told to be quick to listen and slow to speak. That is not a suggestion. It is a posture of faith.
When opinions collide, wisdom often looks like restraint. It looks like taking a step back and listening for what the Lord would say before rushing to respond. It looks like studying what His Word actually says. It looks like evaluating the voices around us through the lens of the gospel rather than emotion or pressure. Only after listening well does speaking become fruitful.
Following Jesus in divided moments does not always mean having the loudest voice or the quickest response. Sometimes it means remaining grounded, patient, and attentive to truth. Clarity is not found in reacting. It is found in listening.
As you continue these days of prayer and fasting, allow space for that posture. Let God shape not just what you believe, but how you listen and how you speak. In a divided world, faithfulness often looks quieter than we expect.
Prayer
God, in moments of division and confusion, help us listen before we speak. Teach us to seek Your voice above all others and to ground our responses in truth rather than fear. As we continue this season of prayer and fasting, give us wisdom, humility, and courage to follow You faithfully. Amen.