Thoughts on How to Respond to People

"And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Then Pilate said to Him, 'Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?' And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed." --Matthew 27:12-14

In our culture, we are taught to not let anyone put us down; we're taught to stand up for ourselves. Jesus didn't. He was "meek and lowly of heart," and we are to learn from Him (Matthew 11:29). Can I still my tongue when people don't tell me what I want to hear? If they accuse me falsely, or if they gossip about me, can I keep from retaliating? If I do answer them, I may only make myself worse or more guilty in their eyes. 

King David's response was, "You have seen it, O Lord, do not keep silent. O Lord, do not be far from me. Stir up Yourself, and awake to my right and to my cause, my God and my Lord. Judge me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness, and do not let them rejoice over me." --Psalm 35:22-24

He trusted God. He allowed God to bring the truth to light, and asked God to be his judge. I want that to be my response in life, because things are bound to come up. What matters most is not what is said of me, but of my response to it.