The Importance of Trustworthy Self-Talk

There are so many competing voices in our minds. Voices of worry, fear, pride, anger, self-pity, envy, and insecurity relentlessly advocate for speaking time. These voices desire to shape our perspective of reality. If we’re not careful to cultivate a trustworthy “inner voice” we’re susceptible to self-sabotage.
Consider Psalm 62 as an example of how Trustworthy Self-talk is necessary and helpful.

The Psalmist opens with a declaration, “I am at rest in God alone”. Literally, in the Hebrew text, it reads: “Only toward God my soul is silence.” This is a tremendous proclamation of faith and hope – that despite the circumstances I am facing “my soul is at rest…is calm…is at peace”.

Then, just 3 verses later the Psalmist reiterates this lesson, but with a notable twist: “Rest in God alone, my soul”. Grammatically, the psalmist adjusts his use of “rest” from a noun to a verb. Notably, he is speaking to his own soul.

V. 1 describes a lesson learned. V. 5 describes a lesson being remembered.

Why the shift? Well, V. 3-4 tells us of the difficulty, burden, and hardship the Psalmist is facing. It’s easy to imagine how competing voices might begin to encroach on his faith.

Worry: “What if this doesn’t turn for better?”
Fear: “Are you sure God is trustworthy?”
Anger: “You deserve to get revenge.”
Pride: “Why would this sort of thing happen to, me?”
Self-loathing: “Why am I such a failure?”
Envy: “Why do they have it so much better than I do?”

These fickle and deceptive voices can do damage to our minds and hearts – which leads to destructive behavior. This is why it is so critical to cultivate trustworthy self-talk that reminds us of what is true. Self-talk that reminds us of what we know to be good and faithful – despite what we may be feeling or experiencing.

Prayer can be a tremendous form of self-talk. We speak to ourselves as we speak to our Heavenly Father. This brief prayer from Tim & Kathy Keller is a wonderful example:

Lord, the deepest impulse of my heart is to do things to secure your blessing rather than rest in what Christ has done for me. This only makes me anxious and in turn insecure and self-righteous. Teach me to “cast my deadly ‘doing’ down—down at Jesus feet” and to “stand in him, in him alone, gloriously complete.” – Amen. (From the songs of Jesus)

So, remember, to remind yourself of what is true.