There have undoubtedly been times in each of our lives when we've made confident assertions only to discover later that we had to retract what had been uttered.  It is never an easy or pleasant thing to take back what has been said or, to use the colloquial, "eat your words."
Interestingly, however, both Old and New Testaments refer to three men who were commanded to eat some words which God had given to them, and having done so, found the experience rather pleasant.  Both Ezekiel and Jeremiah were told that their ministries would have discouraging results, yet it would be a joy to yield to God's will and live out His message.  For Ezekiel, God would send the prophet "…to a rebellious people who have rebelled against me…As for them, whether they listen or not-for they are a rebellious house…you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words…nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.  But you shall speak my words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious" (Ezekiel 2:3-7).
Jeremiah was warned to "not be dismayed before them…they will fight against you…" (Jeremiah 1:17, 19).  Several times this prophet expressed his desire to quit, wishing he had never been born.  Yet, he faithfully continued to proclaim God's Word without backing down.  Believers today need to display the same fortitude these prophets and others like them demonstrated when tempted to quit or compromise God's word and will.  Never allow a person's response to the message of God to determine your faithfulness in speaking His truth and living it out consistently.  It is always important to remember that our responsibility is to be ambassadors for God, as if we were living in a foreign land (which indeed we are-Philippians 3:20), rightly representing our Lord here on earth (II Corinthians 5:20).  The Holy Spirit ultimately must bring about the conviction in a person's life (John 16:7-8).  Each person also has a free will to accept or reject the truth (Ezekiel 33:11).
So what is so encouraging about representing God when the likelihood is great that the response will be one of ridicule, hostility or worse?  Ezekiel was told, "…'son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house.  Open you mouth and eat what I am giving you.'  Then I looked, behold, a hand was extended to me; and lo, a scroll was in it.  When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back; and written on it were lamentations, mourning and woe.  Then He said to me, 'Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.' So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll.  And He said to me, 'Son of man, feed your stomach, and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.'  Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.  Then He said to me, 'Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them…yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me…'" (Ezekiel 2:8-3:7).
What an amazing paradox!  Submitting to God's will and faithfully speaking forth His Word was to be a very pleasant experience in the midst of a very great conflict.  Surrender is indeed sweet!  Jeremiah also discovered, in the midst of second thoughts, "Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart" (Jeremiah 15:16).  He was also told, "…they for their part may turn to you, but as for you, you must not turn to them" (Jeremiah 15:19).  In other words, hold fast to the word of God, for it is pleasant, even in the center of great opposition, bringing peace which cannot be explained, humanly speaking (Philippians 4:7), as you maintain God's standard before others, encouraging them to conform to His will rather than stooping to theirs.
Even if the message may cause great sorrow or heaviness of heart, there is a remarkable comfort and confidence in obeying our Lord and speaking forth the truth rather then remaining silent, adjusting, or even editing parts of God's word to make it more palatable to those we must bring it to.  The apostle John was essentially told this very thing:  "And I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was in my mouth sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter" (Revelation 10:10).  So many of the judgments found in the book of Revelation are horrible and staggers the mind to comprehend all the implications.  John surely had his stomach tied up in knots.  Yet, he knew this is what the Lord commanded.  Yielding to His will brought a sense of sweetness even though it conversely was a "bitter pill to swallow."  The apostle was not told to understand everything about God's ways but rather to obey.

Upon careful reflection, each Christian must realize the timeliness of these truths in their own lives.  Without exception, we will be called upon to rightly represent our Lord to a doubting, sneering and unbelieving world.  Success is not measured by how many people respond positively to the truth but rather by how faithful we are in presenting it.  Family and fellow church members may even be hostile to the Word of God, in so far as it encroaches upon their comfort zone.  Yet it is very sweet to obey, even if our heart has momentarily relocated to the upper part of the esophagus.  Encourage them to come up to God's standard.  Never lower yourself to theirs.  Otherwise, instead of a pleasant experience of feasting on God's words, we'll someday be found eating our own.  And that will certainly be something you'll never be able to stomach!