The Weight of Words
Let me paint a hypothetical scenario for you. I’m sure you have never experienced this because your relationships are perfect. I certainly can’t relate to what I’m about to describe.
(That’s a joke!)
A married couple is driving through the city on a Friday night. Let’s randomly choose Philadelphia. They’re sitting in the car in deafening silence. Even though the drive only lasted a few minutes, it felt like hours.
It had been a long and stressful week with work and kids, but finally, Friday night had arrived. The husband and wife had been looking forward to this alone time all week. But a few minutes earlier, as they were getting ready at home, the romantic date night plans started to go sideways.
The husband and wife each had their own unspoken agenda for the evening and expectations for the other person. Both were more demanding than serving. As they realized their idea for the night was being challenged and rejected, the emotional temperature began rising.
Small, hurtful words were exchanged initially. Then, accusations and assumptions were made. Finally, it boiled over, and criticisms about character and preferences were thrown around. Before long, both gave up on the other and slid into a cocoon of silent hurt and anger.
What had started as an evening full of excitement and deepening friendship quickly descended into bitterness and distance. All because of the weight that words can carry.
That sure is a depressing way to start a Wednesday! So, let’s end the story on a redemptive note. Before getting out of the car and entering the restaurant, the husband and wife were confronted by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. They realized their selfishness and sin, the silence was broken, forgiveness was sought and received, and these lifelong companions were once again enjoying rather than tolerating each other’s company.
In the coming weeks, we will spend time examining the power and weight of words. This is the first place where we get ourselves into trouble. The word word, or talk, doesn’t seem that significant. Four letters. One syllable.
Talk seems so ordinary and mundane. We speak thousands of words daily, most seemingly insignificant and formed without any thought. But they are substantial and should be thoughtful. Few things we do are more important, which is why we are so hurt by them and are so hurtful with them.
Underneath the normality of our talk is a great struggle, a war of words that we fight every day, in every moment, and in every relationship.
The ability to communicate verbally is one of the things that separates us from the rest of creation. God created us to talk, he talks to us, and he invites us to talk with him. So, we must examine the Creator’s wonderful plan for our words—one that is far better than any plan we could create ourselves.
Sadly, sin has radically infected our agenda for our words, resulting in much hurt, confusion, and chaos. We need the conviction of the Holy Spirit to expose when and how we fall short. But most of us are painfully aware of the distance between where we are and where God wants us to be.
So, this series will be more about hope and change—hope that change is possible because of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. In our Savior, we find the grace that provides all we need to speak as God has intended for us to speak.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits” (Proverbs 18:21). Have you considered the weight of your words recently? Or are you talking too much, too fast, and without much thought?
“When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Proverbs 10:19). Jesus not only died for our transgression so that we could inherit eternal life, but so that we could live in harmony and holiness right here, right now.
A Prayer for Today: Lord, please help me understand more deeply the power of my words. Help me to be a person who builds others up with my words instead of tearing them down. Forgive me for the many times that I have used my words as a weapon to injure others and cause division. I need you to help transform my heart so that my words might be transformed too. Death and life are in the power of the tongue and I want to be a source of life to others around me. I need you to give me the power to bring life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God bless,
Paul Tripp
Discussion Prompt for Children
• Why do you think the words we use can be so powerful in a negative way or a positive way?
• When was the last time that you used your words to build someone else up and encourage them? How have you used your words to tear someone else down and make them sad or angry?
• Why do you think God cares so much about how we use our words?
Reflection Questions
1. When was a time in your life when you were able to see the power of your words and how they affected somebody else (either positively or negatively)? How are you currently able to use the power of your words to build others up or tear them down?
2. Have you ever felt convicted by the negative impact of your words? How did you respond to that conviction? In what ways have you made intentional changes to wrangle the power of your words?
3. Why will God’s plans for our words always be better than any plan we could create for ourselves? How have you seen God’s plans for your words work themselves out in your life lately?
4. Are you the kind of person who talks too much, too fast, and without much thought? How might God be calling you to change and be more careful with your words?
5. Are you someone who holds back your words and refuses to encourage and build others up when God could clearly use you to bring life to others simply because of what you say? How might he be calling you to be more verbal with your encouragement?
6. Why do your words really belong to God and not you? Take some time to pause and ask God to use you and your words to bring life and encouragement to others instead of negativity and destruction.