Be careful before speaking every word, knowing you can never take it back. The Lord Jesus taught, “But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37 NASB).
None of us is immune to being hurt by the words other people say. The weight of words is a burden that is often too much to carry. Words cut deeper than knives, leave lasting wounds, and riddle our souls with scars that we struggle to forget.
Speak less, pray more, and know that the Lord is with you. “Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]” (James 1:19 AMP).
Our bodies are hurt by the fist, but our hearts are wounded by words. The body heals over time, but often the heart will never fully recover. Until we can get inner healing from heaven, our outward walk is hindered by the pain we hold onto.
The more you hold onto, the faster you’ll sink. “Turn your burdens over to Yahweh, and he will take care of you. He will never let the righteous person stumble” (Psalm 55:22 NOG).
You can never control what people say to you, but you can always control how you respond. With the help of God, you can learn to manage your feelings and rise above the weight of words that are trying to make you drown in your pool of bitterness.
It takes a greater strength to overlook an offense than to respond to it. “A person’s wisdom has made him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11 NET).
There will always be someone who wants to put you down. But the question is, “Will you let them?” We all have a choice in whether we receive a word or reject a word, and your spiritual health depends on the choices that you make.
The highest place you can be in your faith is when it doesn’t bother you when people look down on you. And the LORD said, “Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults…I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die…” (Isaiah 51:7,12 NKJV).
One of the most powerful changes you can make in your life is to no longer allow anyone to play with your emotions as if they held the strings and you were the puppet. When you don’t allow the words of others to control you, then you will be free.
Until it’s only God’s approval that you seek, you’re merely a puppet to the fickle opinions of man. “The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.” (Proverbs 29:25 MSG).
When someone hurts you or speaks down to you, pray for them. The world will teach you to respond to every attack with a counterattack. Heaven has a different plan, and the Lord Jesus taught us that only goodness can overcome evil.
The best defense against evil is goodness. “Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good” (Romans 12:21 CJB).
We are a thousand times more sensitive to what others say to us than we are to what we say to them. If you want to have better relationships, commit yourself to being better. Let the Holy Spirit convict you and guide you to lift others up and not put them down.
The natural life is lived by your power, whereas the spiritual life is lived by the power of the Holy Spirit inside you. “Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the [Holy] Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants.” (Romans 8:5 GNT).
The weight of words only burdens the soul that holds them up instead of letting them go. Sometimes the best way to not have the burden of words people say to you is to not spend so much time with those who always want to put you down.
Just because slander knocks on your door doesn’t mean you have to entertain it. “And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words]” (1 Peter 3:16 AMP).
Consider that one way to never burden others with words that would weigh heavily on them is to not say anything at all. Sometimes silence is the best message you can speak, and a quiet spirit is what will keep you in the will of God.
It takes a greater strength to hold your tongue than to move a mountain. “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues” (Proverbs 17:27-28 NIV).
Every one of us will someday stand before Christ, and on that day, we will give an account to Him for every word we spoke. Stop focusing on the words that others will be judged by and start considering the judgment for the words you’re speaking.
Let your words be few and full of grace. “Let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2 NKJV). “Let the words you speak always be full of grace” (Colossians 4:6 NIRV).
The weight of words sometimes stays with us for years. As time goes by, and the weight of more words starts to pile up on our souls, the burden can crush us. Cry out to the Lord to deliver you from the power of those negative words spoken over your life.
The Lord sometimes sets us free in a trial before he sets us free from the trial. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19 NKJV).
Before you speak, pray. Consider the words you say on whether they would have the stamp of approval from heaven. If it shouldn’t be said in heaven, then it shouldn’t be said on earth. Sacrifice your tongue to God and let Him guide your words.
The most attractive feature in you is the kind words that might come out of you. “Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you” (Ephesians 4:29 GNT).
Blessings to you always,
Paul Balius