{I’m continuing our conversation about words on (in)courage today. If you know how words can hurt, will you read below and then join us on (in)courage? I’m so grateful for each of you and the words you share here that encourage my heart.}
Women tell me of how words have wounded.
They walk into my counseling office and bare the scars on their hearts.
They lean into me at blogging conferences and tell of unkind comments.
They confide in me over coffee–the lines still echoing all the way back to childhood.
I nod my head, understand.
“Reckless words pierce like a sword” (Proverbs 12:18).
Words can be weapons.
A careless remark. A bit of gossip. A little less sensitivity in a stress-filled moment. Do we know what we do to our sisters?
I sit alone and pray about this one day. I’ve become afraid of words–of what they can do. And it seems in the dark I sense a whisper, “Daughter, words can defend and protect too.”
It’s right there in our armor: “The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).
We must choose how we wield our words.
In my heart I once pictured the enemy coming and a wounded woman on the ground behind me. I put my sword in front of her and said, “You can’t have her. She belongs to the King.” I still get goosebumps as I put those words on this page–because that is why I write. Because life is hard and we all fall and we need sisters who stand in the gap for us. Because words have the capacity to hold back evil, to bring forth life, to sustain, encourage, and unite us.
Will you read the rest with me on (in)courage? Just click here.
