You’ve heard the rhyme a thousand times… (Oh wait.. I think I just made that sentence a rhyme.) “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you.”
Malarkey! Anyone who’s ever been on the other end of a hurtful comment or condescending remark knows that’s one of the most ludicrous statements ever made.
The Power of Words
A few sticks and stones will break some bones, but words…. they’ll tear you apart.
Words have ginormous power.
Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue can bring death or life.” Our words may not physically kill someone, but they can emotionally, spiritually, and mentally destroy lives. The verse goes on to say, “those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” Ouch!
What are you speaking over those around you? Destruction or life? What are you allowing others to speak into your life?
I’ve heard women coming out of abusive relationships say if they had to choose, they’d rather be beat than verbally abused. Stop and read that again, because it’s powerful. A black eye will heal, but the words spoken over us can take years to restore. And we can only do that with the power of God’s truth being engrained in us.
Setting a Spark In Others
The tongue is a tiny thing, yet has more power than anything else on our bodies. James 3:5 says, “The tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.”
I had a teacher in elementary school who spoke destruction over me on a daily basis. As an eight year old girl, I started to believe her. I was worthless. I was fat. I was ugly. I was a disappointment. Those words stuck with me well into my twenties.
It wasn’t until I started replacing those lies with God’s truth that my heart started to change. Truth like, You are more than a conqueror. You are my child. I love you with an everlasting love. You are cherished. You are my beloved. You have the mind of Christ. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Oh… those words have lit a fire in me, a fire I refuse to allow the words of this world to put out. That’s why my hope is for you, too, friend.
Each word we speak has to potential to cause people to shrink back or to move forward in confidence. I’m preaching this myself, as I struggle with sarcasm. I used to try and convince myself it was a “spiritual gift”, but that was just a sarcastic cover up to make myself feel better about my hurtful words.
[ctt template=”5″ link=”9Sh67″ via=”yes” ]A black eye will heal, but the words spoken over us can take years to restore.[/ctt]
Let’s remind people today who they really are – cherished, loved, accepted, chosen, redeemed.
What do you say?