The harsh words hang in the air long after the conversation has ended. The heat of the moment has passed, but a cold feeling of regret settles in your heart. We have all been there—caught in an argument where pride, anger, or misunderstanding led us to say things we wish we could take back. The aftermath can be heavy, filled with guilt and the painful awareness of a fractured relationship. Replaying the conversation in our minds, we wish for a different outcome, for kinder words, and for a heart that was quicker to listen than to speak.

You can read today’s devotional and past reflections at followingtheleader.org.