Ain’t That A VHIT
By Von C. Howard
There are moments in life when staying quiet, though comfortable, is no longer faithful. Times when reflection alone is not enough. When prayer must be matched with posture, and conviction must finally find its voice. These are the moments when the world is not asking for a melody; it is asking for clarity. When the world needs a trumpet, a flute will not do.
I value peace. I believe in patience, gentleness, and listening. There are seasons when softness heals what harshness would only wound. But I have also learned that there are moments when silence becomes permission, when restraint becomes avoidance, and when protecting peace begins to cost us purpose. In those moments, I must ask myself: am I being patient, or am I being afraid?
We are living in complicated times. Division is loud. Uncertainty is heavy. Faith is not only being tested; it is being questioned. Long-held values are challenged. Truth is debated. Integrity is often negotiable. And true leadership feels increasingly scarce. Families are stretched. Communities are hurting. Institutions are strained. In the middle of it all, many of us lower our voices just to keep the tension down. But whispers cannot guide people through storms.
Scripture reminds us why clarity matters. “If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8). In biblical times, the trumpet was not background music. It warned, gathered, directed, and prepared. When Joshua stood before Jericho, it was not negotiation that moved the walls; it was obedience and the sound of the trumpet. When the trumpet sounded, something shifted. Barriers fell. Direction was given. Change began.
Being a trumpet today does not mean being loud or abrasive. It does not mean forcing opinions or chasing attention. It means being willing to tell the truth with love. To stand for what is right when it is unpopular. To speak when your heart is racing and your hands are shaking. Courage, I am learning, is not fearlessness. It is faithfulness.
I know how easy it is to soften convictions to protect relationships. To stay quiet to avoid misunderstanding. To water down truth so it fits comfortably in familiar rooms. I have done it myself. But every time I do, something inside me feels smaller, as if I am slowly forgetting who I was created to be.
Lately, my prayers have changed. I am no longer asking God to make my life easier. I am asking Him to make my life useful. Not louder, but braver. Not more visible, but more faithful. The world does not need more arguments. It needs more integrity. More courage. More leaders who are steady, humble, and anchored.
There will always be a place for gentle melodies. But there are moments, quiet, sacred, defining moments. when only a trumpet will do.
Call to Sound Your Trumpet
This is one of those moments.
If you have been holding back your voice, speak with wisdom and courage.
If you have been standing on the sidelines, step forward with purpose.
If you have been waiting for permission, understand that obedience is your assignment.
Our children are watching.
Our communities are listening.
Our future is waiting.
Sound the trumpet with your life, your leadership, and your love.
When the world needs a trumpet, a flute will not do.
