People sometimes say, “You could’ve talked to me.” Yet what they really mean is, you could’ve stepped into a space where your words would be dismissed, twisted, or used against you. That’s not conversation, that’s survival mode. True dialogue requires humility and accountability, but without those, every exchange feels like a courtroom cross-examination, not a safe place to be seen.

I’ve learned that when accountability isn’t part of someone’s language, every attempt at honesty becomes a trap. Words lose their meaning, responsibility is deflected, and the tables are turned until the other person is somehow the victim and you are painted as the villain. It leaves you drained, unheard, and carrying a weight that was never yours to bear.

God calls us to walk in truth. He calls us to bear one another’s burdens, yes, but not to carry false guilt or step into endless cycles of misunderstanding. Protecting your peace is not selfish — it is stewardship. It is recognising that you do not owe explanations to those who are committed to misunderstanding you. You do not owe your clarity or your energy to someone who only shows up to argue, defend, and win.

Instead, you owe your heart the safety of peace, the gentleness of truth, and the grace of boundaries. You owe yourself the still waters where healing can take root, not the storm of endless strife. Protecting your peace is not walking away from love; it is walking towards the kind of love that is safe, pure, and anchored in Christ.

✨ Today I remind myself: I choose peace. I choose accountability in my relationships. I choose to let honesty be the language of love, and when that language is absent, I choose not to translate chaos into my soul.

🙌Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for being my peace when words fall short and conversations turn into battlegrounds. Teach me to walk in wisdom, to know when to speak and when to stay silent, and to guard my heart without hardening it. Help me to forgive quickly, to set boundaries kindly, and to keep my eyes fixed on You — the One who never misunderstands me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.