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READ: MATTHEW 12:34-37; ROMANS 5:1-11; 1 JOHN 4:16-19\n\n\n\nWe all know the feeling. We\u2019re going about our day and something happens\u2014a difficult conversation, a snag at school or work, a major food spill on our clothes, forgetting our lunch, etc. When something happens to mess up our plans or efforts, it\u2019s like a bump that pushes us off course. When things don\u2019t go our way, often a bit of what\u2019s in our hearts spills out. If our hearts are filled with patience and kindness, gentle words spill out. But if we\u2019re still working through hatred or fear, harsh words sometimes spill out instead.\n\n\n\nWhat comes out when you get bumped\u2014when things don\u2019t go right for you? When we realize we\u2019ve acted in a harsh way toward someone, we can confess it to Jesus and to those we were harsh toward. We can rest assured that when we come to Jesus there is always forgiveness\u2014no matter what we\u2019ve said or done. He has already paid for all our sins through His death and resurrection, and He\u2019ll help us remember that He has filled our hearts with His love through the Holy Spirit. So, no matter what happens to bump our plans off course, His love can spill over onto others through our words and actions.\n\n\n\nBut what about when cruel words keep spilling out of us and we can\u2019t seem to stop? Jesus wants to help us with this too. Even when we mess up, out of Jesus\u2019s mouth flows grace, forgiveness, love, and promises for us\u2014because that\u2019s what\u2019s in His heart for us. Through His Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church), He\u2019ll help us untangle any lies or false assumptions that get in the way of resting in the truth of His love for us and others. Remember that the kind of love He has for each of us is full of patience, kindness, and understanding\u2026and that\u2019s the same love He\u2019s filled our hearts with. So, when we get bumped, we can trust Him to help us rest in His love and let others see that love overflowing from within us. \u2022 A. W. Smith\n\n\n\n\u2022 Can you think of a time someone spilled unkind words on you? How did it feel? What might have been going on in their world when that happened? Even though unkindness is not excusable, understanding where people are coming from can help us have compassion on them.\n\n\n\n\u2022 Can you think of a time you\u2019ve been harsh when you\u2019ve gotten bumped? How can resting in the truth of Jesus\u2019s love help us communicate with love and clarity, even when we get bumped?\n\n\n\n\u2022 When you experience big emotions that you\u2019re not sure how to process, who are safe people in your life you can talk with\u2014such as counselors, parents, pastors, etc.?\n\n\n\n\u201c\u2026the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.\u201d Matthew 12:34b (CSB)