“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9
Throughout our lives, there are many times we wish others would speak up for us. Sometimes this is in school, at our workplace, or even at home. If nobody speaks up for us, we often feel we don’t matter. Our feelings get hurt and sometimes we are exploited to our own detriment, which makes us think, All of this could have been avoided if someone had just stood up for me.
Sometimes the person who didn’t stand up for us was a parent, friend, or significant other. When someone close to us doesn’t stand up for us, it can make us feel terrible. Since we love them and they are supposed to love us, it is only natural to think they would be dependable. However, when we feel slighted or hurt by a loved one who doesn't stand in the gap, we shouldn't jump to conclusions so quickly.
As someone who has failed to stand up for others on many occasions, it is not due to a lack of love or care. Rather, it is rooted in fear. When my parents had arguments, I always wanted to stand up for my mother, but I was too afraid. I was afraid my dad would think badly of me. So, I chose to stay quiet when I could have spoken up for my mom.
As I’ve gotten older, I have tried to be more prone to speak up for others when they are not heard; however, I often fear I have failed them. I try my best, but in truth, that is all I can give. I’m not a trained speaker nor am I remarkably confident in my abilities. I get afraid and this causes me to retreat. Therefore, when someone fails to speak up for us, we need to remember that we have been in their shoes before too and that their human response doesn't dictate whether or not they love us.
I remember feeling extremely relieved when my mom spoke up for me when I was at the hospital. The nurses were not being kind and they were trying to ask me a million questions while I was profusely sick. I was about to pass out, but all they could ask me was, “What is your weight? Your height? Why don’t you have insurance? You have no primary care doctor on file. Why is this?”
My mom got extremely upset with them and she spoke up for not only my quality of care but for me. She wasn’t putting up with mean nurses who were making a terrible situation even worse. I was proud of my mom for standing up for me. And she did this because she loved me. My mother was a force of a woman you did not want to mess with, and I’m sure the nurses to this day remember her fury. Hopefully, this has helped them to be more kind, caring, and understanding in the care of their patients. This encounter taught me much about the importance of standing up for others, especially your loved ones.
The Bible tells us, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9). As this passage says, we need to speak up for others and defend the rights of the destitute. Moreover, we need to judge fairly and defend the rights of all people. Sadly, the small, meek, and impoverished individuals are the ones who go unnoticed by the world.
These individuals are being stepped on each day by the giants of the world. Instead of turning a deaf ear to the needy, the poor, and the destitute, we need to stand up for them. This might mean standing up for the poor in your community, but it could also mean standing up for your sibling, spouse, parent, friend, or coworker. Even if a person doesn’t appear needy, destitute, or impoverished doesn’t mean they aren’t in need of help.
Whenever we see anyone being treated unfairly, we need to speak up and stand up for them. Yes, this can be scary, but it is also extremely important. When we choose to stand up for others and speak up for them, we are obeying God. He wants us to speak up and stand up for these individuals and help them in their time of need. Anytime we speak up and stand up for others, it shows our love for them as well as our love for God.
“Dear God, I have often run from standing up for others. Due to fear, I keep quiet. Please help me to stand up for others and to speak up for them. I don’t want to allow these individuals to suffer any longer. Failing to speak up for them shows disobedience and apathy. I want others to know just how much I love them, so I can't let fear control me. Help me always care and stand up for the rights of others. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen.”
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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Tuesday, 10 September 2024.
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