It was just another warm summer morning as a group of children filed down the stairs into the basement of the Reformed Church in Ashley, North Dakota. We gathered around tables prepared for the bible school art activity appointed for that day.
As we began to color, cut, and paste our art projects, the pastor wandered through the room. Stopping at each table, he often commented on the work that was being done. When he came to the table where I was seated, he stopped behind me. He leaned down a bit to look at what I was doing and then, as he straightened up, said, “looks like a three-year-old cut that out.”
It was a throw away comment. One the pastor likely never thought much about. But the hurt those words caused stayed with me for a very long time.
We say things like, “it’s only words,” or “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But none of that is true. Words are powerful. They can hurt us in ways and to depths that sticks and stones will never reach. They wound us in ways that are hard to heal.
If we are told we are not worthy or good enough, we begin to believe it. If we are continually called a disappointment or a failure, we begin to believe it. Sometimes words like this come from our own family and impact us for years. Sometimes these words come from advertisements and social media posts that bombard us every day. These words can begin to echo within us in our own voice. Words have great power to harm.
But words also have the power to build up, to heal, to restore, and transform lives. One of the scripture readings for this week is from Ezekiel 37. It’s the story of the dry bones. God commands Ezekiel to speak to the dry bones and the words cause the bones to spring to life!
The breath that carries those words brings new life. Ezekiel’s words, which are God’s words, are powerful and life-giving. Words of harm and hopelessness are no match and are blown away like sand.
These are the words of God’s good news! God forgives. God restores. God makes a way through the valley of brokenness, sin, and death. Hear these words of life for you. You are loved. You are a child of God. Believe these words and then, remembering the power of words, speak words of encouragement, hope, healing, and life, into a world sorely in need of them.
Choose your words carefully. Words have power. Speak a word of encouragement today.