06/05/2026
Today's Reflection: "The Courage to Communicate' by Lavinia B. Masters
This morning, I found myself reflecting on something that has weighed heavily on my spirit for quite some time.
One of the greatest honors of my life has been mentoring and coaching women and young girls. Whether through advocacy, leadership, relationships, marriage, friendship, or healing after trauma, I genuinely take pride in pouring into others. I do not view mentoring as a title. I view it as a responsibility. It is a sacred trust that someone would allow me into their life, their struggles, their dreams, and their healing journey.
Yet this morning, I paused to consider something that often leaves me puzzled.
How often do we assume that people fully comprehend what we are saying? How often do we believe they understand our intentions simply because we have spoken the words?
Communication is a fascinating thing. What we say is not always what people hear. What we intend is not always what others receive. And sometimes people react not from what was actually said, but from wounds, insecurities, fears, or past experiences that have shaped how they interpret the world around them.
As I reflect, I think about relationships that once felt strong but now feel distant. Relationships where communication has shifted. Conversations that once flowed freely now feel strained. Moments when I can sense something has changed, but no one is willing to discuss it.
I have learned over the years to trust discernment.
I know when something feels different.
I know when someone's energy has shifted.
I know when communication begins to deteriorate.
And often I find myself wondering if something was misunderstood, if something was said by another person, or if there is a hurt that was never brought to the table for discussion.
The reality is, I cannot heal what I do not know exists.
I cannot correct what I have never been told.
I cannot participate in reconciliation if I am never invited into the conversation.
The Bible teaches us clearly in Matthew 5:23-24 that if we have an offense with our brother or sister, we should seek reconciliation. Scripture does not encourage silent resentment. It encourages courageous conversation.
I wish more people understood that.
I wish more people would feel safe enough to return and have the same conversations that built the relationship in the first place.
Because I value relationships.
I value trust.
I value honesty.
And I value accountability.
Yet I have also learned another difficult truth...
Sometimes people are not prepared for the life they say they desire.
Sometimes they are not prepared for the healing they pray for.
Sometimes they are not prepared for the growth that comes with mentorship.
Growth requires self-examination.
Growth requires correction.
Growth requires accountability.
Growth requires looking in the mirror and confronting what is uncomfortable.
And unfortunately, some people would rather protect their insecurities than confront them.
I have witnessed situations where envy, comparison, fear, low self-esteem, and unresolved wounds begin to interfere with otherwise healthy relationships. Instead of communicating, people withdraw. Instead of asking questions, they assume. Instead of seeking understanding, they create narratives.
And when that happens, relationships begin to suffer.
My prayer today is that those I mentor, coach, counsel, and support will learn to trust healthy relationships enough to communicate openly.
I pray they learn to silence the negative voices that often speak louder than truth.
I pray they learn to distinguish between discernment and insecurity.
I pray they learn to recognize when they are being supported instead of assuming they are being judged.
Most importantly, I pray they learn to do the daily work of self-examination.
Because healing is not just about overcoming trauma.
Healing is also about learning how to maintain healthy relationships.
Healing is learning how to communicate.
Healing is learning how to trust.
Healing is learning how to receive love, support, and correction without seeing them as threats.
As for me, I will continue to love people where they are.
I will continue to mentor.
I will continue to encourage.
I will continue to tell the truth in love.
And I will continue to trust that God reveals what needs to be revealed and heals what needs to be healed.
Not every relationship is meant to last forever.
But every relationship has something to teach us.
And perhaps today's lesson is this:
Healthy relationships are not sustained by assumptions.
They are sustained by communication, courage, humility, and truth.
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying..." — Ephesians 4:29
My Personal Prayer:
"Lord, help me continue to lead with wisdom, love with grace, and communicate with truth. Help me recognize the difference between those who are growing and those who are resisting growth. Give me peace concerning relationships I cannot repair alone, and courage to nurture the relationships You have entrusted to me".
"Sometimes peace does not come from fixing every relationship. Sometimes peace comes from knowing you did your part, walked in integrity, and left the rest in God's hands". ❤️
