“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Proverbs 12:25
“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4
Our words are powerful. Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Learning how to use our words to give life and healing to others is a journey – and one of the best ways to move forward in knowing what to say and how to say it is to walk a mile in another person’s shoes. Let’s look at a few examples:
Imagine that you are in constant physical pain from a chronic illness.
--- What might someone say that would be irritating?
--- What might someone say that would bring you comfort?
Imagine that you are in emotional pain because you are undergoing a difficult divorce.
--- What might someone say that would make you hurt worse?
--- What might someone say that would help you heal?
Imagine that you are in relational pain because a friend has gossiped about something shared confidence.
--- What might someone say that would be counterproductive?
--- What might someone say that would help you move forward?
Imagine that you are in spiritual pain because you are consumed by doubt about your faith.
--- What might someone say that would be crushing to you?
--- What might someone say that would bring you hope?
Let's commit to using our words to bring life and hope and healing to everyone who hears us!
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