"The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge but the mouth of the fool gushes folly." Proverbs 15:2 (NIV)

It was one of those voicemails that left me rubbing the sides of my head wondering, "Why me? Why today?" I was blindsided by the criticism and felt this would be the perfect time to find a hole and crawl into it.

Criticism hurts. No matter who you are, how many people are encouraging you, and how happy you felt before you got "that call" or "that email," one drop of critical yuck spreads fast and furious.

Oh how I wish I had a little "criticism antidote" to make it all better. I don't. But I do have a little sermonette I preach to myself when criticized.

When someone criticizes, I've got to quickly discern if they are trying to help me or hurt me.

No criticism is fun, but it can be helpful if it is from a wise person speaking words that are truly intended to help us. Proverbs 15:2a says, "The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge ..." To me, a wise person is someone who:

• Cares enough about me to get their facts straight and isn't speaking out of assumption.

• Has talked to God and reflects a gentle, caring tone in their communication.

• And wraps their criticism with grace and humility.

This kind of criticism is given with the intent of sharing helpful wisdom that is constructive rather destructive.

If the criticism is destructive and hurtful, I must remember the second part of Proverbs 15:2b, "... but the mouth of the fool gushes folly." The definition of folly is a "lack of understanding or sense."

We need to remember this kind of harsh and unnecessary criticism says a lot more about their insecurities than our inadequacies.

We can't fix whatever hurt caused them to lash out. But we can decide to stay calm and not compound the hurt. "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1 NIV)

No matter what kind of criticism we get—helpful or hurtful—it still stings. And we might not feel like being calm at first. When I returned the call that left my heart racing and my head pounding, I didn't feel like being calm. I had to choose to be calm despite my feelings. I'm learning that staying calm is as much of a gift to myself as it is to the one criticizing me.

Dear Lord, I know You are not a God of condemnation and criticism. Teach me to hold my tongue and trust in You when I am hurt by those around me. I want to be able to take the criticism that is helpful and leave the criticism that is hurtful, but I know that only through You can I do this without the weight of condemnation. Thank You for Your gentle conviction and patience with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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Related Resources:

Sometimes it can be really hard to keep our emotions in control when we feel like we are being attacked with criticism. Lysa's new book, Unglued, is releasing today! In it she shares personal experience and scriptural wisdom to help us make better decisions with our reactions. Click here to order!

The accompanying Unglued Bible Study will help you understand what the Bible says about better ways to react. To order your copy, click here.

We'd love to share a chapter of Unglued with you! Click here to read a section of this life-changing book and hop over to the Unglued website. It's a great resource to help equip you in making lasting changes.

Are you ready to start learning to make wise choices in the midst of raw emotions but don't want to start alone? On August 23rd at 8 p.m. EST we'll be hosting a FREE Unglued Webcast with a powerful message from Lysa TerKeurst to get you going. We'll also be featuring the radio personalities from K-Love! Please join us at www.klove.com. No makeup, shoes or preparation required. Sign up to receive an email reminder here.

Reflect and Respond:

What criticism is God calling you to lay aside right now? If you are criticizing others, how is God calling you be an encourager instead of a criticizer?

"Staying calm is as much of a gift to myself as it is to the one criticizing me."

Power Verses:

Romans 15:4, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." (NKJV)

Proverbs 15:1, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (NIV)

© 2012 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.