The Power of Our Words: A Call to Speak Life
Words. We use thousands of them every day, often without much thought to their impact. We speak to our families, coworkers, strangers at the grocery store, and even to ourselves. But have we considered the weight our words carry? The creative power they possess? The lasting impact they leave on others and on our own souls?
The truth is, our words matter far more than we realize. They have the power to build up or tear down, to heal or to wound, to bring life or to bring death.
Words That Haunt Us
We all have them—those moments we wish we could take back. Words spoken in anger, frustration, or carelessness that we can't seem to shake. They follow us through the years, reminding us of who we were in that moment, even when we've grown and changed.
Perhaps it was a conversation where we lost our temper and said things we shouldn't have. Maybe it was gossip we spread, sarcasm that cut deeper than we intended, or harsh criticism that wounded someone we care about. Whatever the specifics, these memories linger because deep down, we know our words revealed something about our hearts that we're not proud of.
The Bible speaks directly to this struggle in Proverbs 18:21: "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." This isn't just poetic language—it's a spiritual principle. The words we speak don't just affect others; they shape our own lives. When we speak words of criticism, we become more critical. When we speak bitterness, bitterness surrounds us. When we speak unforgiveness, we find ourselves unable to forgive.
We eat the fruit of our own words.
The Heart Connection
Jesus made it clear that our words aren't isolated events—they're windows into our hearts. "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45). When something "just spews out" of us in a moment of anger or stress, we can't honestly say "that wasn't me." It was us. It came from seeds of discord, hurt, or anger that we've allowed to take root in our hearts.
This is why guarding our hearts is so essential. What we allow to grow there will eventually come out through our words. The good news is that God wants to help us with this. He wants to transform our hearts so that what flows from them brings life rather than destruction.
Seven Things God Hates
Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven things that are detestable to God, and remarkably, words are connected to most of them: haughty eyes (pride in how we speak to others), a lying tongue, a heart that devises wicked schemes (which requires words to execute), feet quick to rush to evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Our words are woven throughout the things that grieve God's heart. This should make us pause and examine how we use them.
The Biblical Chorus
Scripture speaks about our words repeatedly, creating a chorus of wisdom we need to hear:
"Let the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord" (Psalm 19:14)
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger" (Proverbs 15:1)
"The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking" (Proverbs 15:28)
"Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut and you'll stay out of trouble" (Proverbs 21:23)
"Don't let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up" (Ephesians 4:29)
The message is clear and consistent: our words require intentionality, wisdom, and self-control.
The Impossibility and the Solution
James 3 delivers a sobering reality check: "No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison." The tongue is compared to a small spark that can set an entire forest ablaze, a tiny rudder that steers a massive ship, and a bit that controls a powerful horse.
This might sound discouraging, but it's actually liberating. We can't do this in our own strength—and we were never meant to. We need God's help. We need His Spirit working in us, transforming our hearts, giving us wisdom about when to speak and when to remain silent, teaching us to season our words with grace.
The Freedom of Making Things Right
When God brings a past wrong to mind—something we said that hurt someone—it's not to condemn us but to set us free. There's incredible freedom in going back and making things right, even when it's uncomfortable or embarrassing.
The response we receive when we apologize isn't the point. Whether the person remembers or not, whether they accept our apology or reject it, is ultimately between them and God. What matters is our obedience to what God is calling us to do. When we humble ourselves and acknowledge our wrongs, God releases us from the burden we've been carrying, sometimes for years.
Speaking Life Into the Forest
When a forest fire destroys acres of woodland, it takes about eleven years for the forest to begin reestablishing itself and thirty years to reach maturity again. But it has to start somewhere—with a single seed planted, a single acorn taking root.
Our words can be like that devastating spark that sets a forest ablaze. But they can also be the seeds of new growth, of restoration, of life. We have the choice every day, in every conversation, with every interaction.
Moving Forward
So what does this look like practically? It means:
Pausing before we speak, especially when emotions are high
Asking God to help us see people as He sees them, not from a human point of view
Being willing to apologize when we get it wrong
Using our words to encourage, build up, and speak truth in love
Recognizing that tone matters as much as content
Refusing to normalize sarcasm, criticism, or "just kidding" comments that carry hidden barbs
Remember, we're Christ's ambassadors. We carry a message of hope, redemption, and transformation. Our words should reflect that reality.
As Proverbs 16:1 reminds us, "To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue." We need His help. And when we commit our ways to Him, He establishes our plans and gives us the words we need—words that bring life, not death; healing, not harm; hope, not despair.
May we speak with the grace, wisdom, and love that reflects the One who lives within us.
