Proverbs 12:18 “Reckless words pierce like a sword but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Never has a saying been more untrue than ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me’. Usually a crushed spirit takes longer to heal than a broken bone. Words can sting and cut deep, often leaving wounds and insecurities that last a lifetime. No doubt like me you can think back to an incident in your life that the other person involved has long forgotten, but what they said was so hurtful, and those reckless words indeed did ‘pierce like a sword’, leaving a lasting wound.
When I receive hundreds of responses to a piece of writing, it’s the few negative ones that I tend to re-read and dwell on. Why are we like that? One thing I’ve learnt is that words are so powerful and there will always be a negative one, a biting criticism, an accusation, be it justified or not. Our motives will be misunderstood and questioned. And it cuts deep.
“…but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Encouragement is likewise a powerful thing. Mark Twain once said: “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” I made it a resolution last year to intentionally write one email of encouragement a day to someone, knowing how much it blesses the recipient. The apostle Barnabas was a great encourager, and we can all be one; it doesn’t cost us much. Resolve to be one today, and then God will use you to bring healing. What a privilege!
Most people’s opinions of us don’t matter. Supremely only God’s does. And he offers you today the most profoundly affirming, energizing, empowering, life-giving endorsement that, no matter what you’re going through,
“I BELIEVE YOU’VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE WHO I’VE CALLED YOU TO BE!”
Lord, I receive that word – it’s so healing! And I choose both to receive that encouragement and to offer it to others today. Amen!
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Correction: There was an error on yesterday’s email, which referred to an old appeal. We are sorry for any confusion this may have caused. Please check out our current Easter appeal here.
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