Today I was shocked to read that eight refugees had chosen to sew up their mouths because of the destruction of homes in Calais jungle in France. Whatever your beliefs about refugees in Europe this is a disturbing expression of how desperate and disillusioned they are. Done because they feel they have no voice. An irony when many have left their countries because they wanted a voice that they could not have in their home nations for fear of reprisal, persecution, imprisonment and death.

We can take so much for granted. The freedom to speak, have an opinion, make a choice, and access support. Sometimes with that privilege comes a responsibility to care and act to help others who do not have a voice.

There may be times when we do speak and we are ignored, rejected and opposed. Yet the bible exhorts us to “speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable. Speak out in order to judge with righteousness and to defend the needy and the poor.” (Proverbs 31:9-10 Common English Bible)

Sometimes our shyness prevents us for speaking. Or fear grips our heart and we just can’t get any words out. God is our helper. In our weakness his power is made manifest. And his love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18 NIV). There are times when we can retreat to the safety of prayer. Prayer is important but we also need to from that place engage as we feel led and moved. Isaiah 1:15-17 expresses this principle. When we pray we are encouraged to get our hearts right before God. To stop doing evil. Then to “learn to do good, seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” (New American Standard Bible). Here reproving, defending and pleading require using our voice on behalf of others.

It maybe that we think we are not eloquent enough or that we are not intelligent enough or important enough. The bible says that God “chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27 NIV) And sometimes the voice we have can come through our actions, our silence and even our presence communicating care, commitment, opposition and reconciliation.

And there is not only the voice we speak but also the voice we hear but sometimes we need to make space to listen or to be open to believe that God may speak. Hebrews 3:15 says “today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” You may say that you have never heard God’s voice. His voice speaks through creation. His voice speaks through the wisdom and counsel of others. His truth is found in the bible. His voice can be audible or a whisper. God may speak through dreams and visions. Sometimes we don’t always recognise when God is speaking to us. It may take others to make this clear. The boy Samuel did not know it was God speaking to him. It was Eli who discerned that it was God that was speaking to Samuel. He was told by Eli to “go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, “speak, Lord for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:9 NIV)

And so as I consider the eight refugees who have stitched up their lips and all refugees who are feeling they have no voice I encourage you to be thankful for the freedoms you have and to not take these for granted. And from that place of thanks consider how you may make a difference to those who have no voice. And to use your voice to encourage, inspire, defend, exhort, challenge, correct, heal, reconcile, and communicate love.

Maybe the words you speak are negative and judgemental of others. Or maybe other people have spoken negative and judgemental words over you. God loves you and he can transform, heal and restore. Sometimes we need to use our voice to ask God the questions that act as a barrier to knowing him. The Alpha course across the world has given people the opportunity to meet with others that have questions and to explore the Christian faith sharing a meal with others. This may be something that you would like to do.

Whatever you believe I encourage you to have a voice, be a voice for others who need support and to make space to hear his voice for you.