The Rein of Wisdom

When anger tempts to spill, wisdom takes the reins and holds steady.

You say I’m wise.

But wisdom is nothing more than a rein.

It’s not a halo.

It’s not a crown.

It is the Spirit’s bridle on my tongue—

the hand that stops me from trading hurt for hurt.

I know I could wound with words,

but rage never heals.

It feeds the fire,

burns the bridge,

and leaves nothing but ash.

Wisdom is lived experience—

learning which roads lead to ruin,

and which ones can still be turned from.

It is knowing the weight of my own darkness,

and seeing the same in others—

choosing mercy anyway.

When baited, I step back from the cliff’s edge.

When another unravels,

I let them,

knowing they have yet to be worn by the breaking

that teaches restraint.

Because lashing out

is not strength—

it is a soul still untouched

by the refining fire of God.

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What it reveals

Wisdom is not about appearing pure or faultless. It is the practiced choice to restrain the darkness in us, not because we lack the power to strike, but because we know the damage it would cause.

What it asks

Where am I tempted to confuse silence with weakness, or retaliation with strength?

What it undoes

The illusion that being “right” justifies unleashing harm.

What it plants

A deeper trust in God’s Spirit to hold the reins when I am provoked—choosing patience, mercy, and gentleness over revenge.

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Captive to the Word

"A fool gives full vent to his spirit,

but a wise person quietly holds it back." — Proverbs 29:11

"The one who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and the one who rules his spirit than the one who takes a city." — Proverbs 16:32

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Seed for Thought

"Wisdom isn’t the absence of darkness—

it’s the Spirit’s hand on the reins,

holding it back until love can lead."

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