Do you want to be understood? I know I do. We have all kinds of ways of communicating in this world; we send emails, we make phone calls, we send text messages all in hopes of being heard and understood. Sometimes, especially when it comes to text messages, we hit send and then immediately question how our message will be received; will the person receiving it read between the lines? Should we have added an emoji? 

We want to communicate our words and feelings when we talk to someone. 

We all know how complicated text messages and emails can get, but even when speaking face to face with someone we don't always feel understood. We want to be heard, we want them to “get” us, but that doesn’t always happen because we can't control what someone hears, believes, or receives. 

What we can control, however, is how we express ourselves, and so that's what God calls us to do. 

And if you can believe it, there’s actually a verse in Scripture telling us just that! 

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” Romans 12:18 (NASB) There are lots of situations beyond our control, especially when others are involved but, 

God calls us to do our part, to express ourselves kindly and lovingly, and what people do with that is up to them. 

Now, this doesn’t change the fact that we still want people to understand us. We still care when we’re misunderstood. We want to have good communication with others, between us and our families, our friends, our coworkers… I really want to have that, don’t you? And we can trust God with those desires. We can say, “Lord, I am going to speak my heart. You do with it what You will, I can't control the outcome.” 

So, the next time you feel like you're trying to hammer a point home to someone, take a step back, hand it over to God and let Him take it from there. As you give it all to Him, say, “Father, I can't convince them. Please make them understand. I'm going to entrust that part to You as I pursue peace within my heart and toward others.”