Being on mission in the marketplace means speaking truth — and staying in the relationship when you do.

The report was wrong. Not slightly off — fundamentally flawed. And Sarah's director was about to present it to the board.

She had thirty minutes to decide: say something and risk embarrassing him publicly, or stay quiet and let it land badly in the meeting.

"Speaking the truth in love" — she'd heard that phrase her whole life. In this moment, it became concrete and costly.

She went to his office. Quietly. Directly. "I think there's a significant error in the analysis. Can I show you?" Her director's face tightened. He reviewed her findings for five minutes. Then exhaled.

"You're right. How did I miss this?"

The board meeting was delayed two hours. Sarah rewrote the analysis. Her director presented it correctly. Afterward, he stopped by her desk: "That took courage. Thank you."

Truth without grace would have sent an email to the group. Grace without truth would have said nothing. Ephesians 4:15 calls us to hold both — which is harder than either alternative.

The marketplace doesn't have enough people willing to do that.

Identify one conversation you've been avoiding because truth might cost something. Ask God for the courage and grace to have it this week — directly with the person, with genuine care for the relationship.

Lord, give me courage to speak truth and grace to do it with love. Help me care more about people than about my own comfort. Let my honesty point others to You.

In Jesus' name, Amen.