This morning I learned a new term associated with a person who suffers from an anxiety disorder which causes them to not speak in certain situations. It is called Selective Mutism.

I was teaching the weekly Bible study at Middle School West, so fittingly called GodTalk, and in walked a girl I don’t think had ever joined us before. She seemed a bit hesitant, yet determined, especially after I offered her a donut which she ate faster than I have ever seen someone eat it. After the donut, she left for a minute and then came back. We directed her to sit with another group of girls at a table and participate. At GodTalk, we have spent the entire school year learning from the book of Proverbs and I figured the students, many of whom are regulars, had gotten the hang of how a proverb is formulated and what the point of a proverb is. I had them write their own proverbs. I gave them a few different prompts, one of which read “Following God leads to ___________, But ignoring God leads to _____________.”

Each table wrote their own and read them out loud one by one, when all of a sudden, this young middle school girl raises her hand and says very clearly, “I have one!” so I told her to say it. She said, “Following God leads to lower cholesterol, but ignoring God leads to higher cholesterol.” I followed that up with a smile and told her that was a good one and that I think following God can reduce our stress resulting in a good response from our bodies. The teacher, who so generously offers her time and her classroom every week 45 minutes before school starts, got this shocked look on her face when this student spoke up. I wasn’t quite sure why, but it kind of seemed as if she had just received a gift better than the proverbial apple.

When our time had run out for the morning, I walked out of the classroom and into the hallway where the teacher followed me and there was another teacher out in the hallway waiting for us. The teacher went on to tell me that this young lady has ‘selective mutism’ and has only said ONE WORD all year, but in our short Bible study she said a few full sentences. The other teacher had a joyful look of excitement on her face and told me more about this young lady. I’m not sure what sparked this girl's words this morning other than the power of thinking about God and what he can do…maybe even lower our cholesterol!!

I think sometimes when we have an opportunity to speak of God to others we have a kind of ‘selective mutism’. Maybe we are embarrassed or think we don’t know what to say or have the correct words, but we have to remember that God can speak wonderful things through us even if we think we can’t, and I believe that God does this ESPECIALLY when we think we can’t.

The apostle Paul said that the Lord had told him,

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor 12:9

God wants to show you his strength when you are weak.

So the next time you think you can’t speak, remember God’s power that is at work in you. Also, remember this young middle school girl who chose to speak the most words she had said all school year because we were talking about following God. We never know what affect our words will have on those around us. Proverbs 25:11 says, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken at the right time”.

The teacher who hosted our group this morning got an apple of gold in a setting of silver when this young lady spoke up for the first time. Imagine the joy in the heart of God when we take a chance and speak of Him to others!!

I would ask that you pray for two things:

• For our weekly Bible studies at Gahanna Middle School West, South and East. We wrap up next week so pray that this time together had a spiritual impact on the lives of the students who participated.
• For this young lady, that she would always remember the time she spoke up in GodTalk. Do you see the connection there?