It’s a prayer I’ve uttered several times. It goes something like this – God please give me a thick skin and a tender heart.
Why that prayer? Words. Careless words. Misinterpreted words. Well intended but clunky words. Mean words. Ambiguous words. He said she said word wars. Many of my Bridges guests share how negative words have affected their lives. Words are powerful and their impact lives on long after the conversation ends.
Thick Skin and Tender Heart?
I am a sensitive person, so I found that I got my feelings hurt a lot. I didn’t want to harden my heart toward people, so I asked God to give me a thick skin and a tender heart by the power of His Holy Spirit. That prayer has spared my heart pain on many occasions.
Words can also incite heightened emotions. Consider this true story of a single mom. This single mom, let’s call her Sue, lived with her two children in the inner city in what was considered an unsafe area.
Sue was very brave and hardworking. She didn’t have a car, so she took a bus to her full-time job as a secretary. One year, she got a second job in the evenings at a department store to have money for Christmas presents.
Are You Ready to Die?
One snowy night after her shift she walked to the bus stop. A very tall man walked into the bus stop as well. He looked at Sue and smiled. Then he said, “Are you ready to die?” At that Sue started to scream for help as loud as she could.
Then, the man started apologizing and explained he wasn’t going to hurt her. The very tall man told Sue what he was trying to say was “When you die do you know for sure that you’ll go to heaven?” The man meant well but his poor choice of words scared a single mom of two children beyond belief.
I share with you this true story to illustrate the power of words. What we say – how we say it – is very important. Words can heal. Words can hurt. Words can bring people together. Words can destroy relationships. Words can be the difference between life and death.
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Proverbs 18:21 NLT
You’re Cute but You’re Not Very Smart
A recent guest on Bridges shared that when she was little her family would say “good thing you are cute because you are not very smart”. They were kidding, but as a young child she interpreted those words as truth. Those words – that label stuck with her for years. Those words shaped her choices and framed her world until she became a Christ follower.
When she became a Christian, she walked into a brand-new life where God’s Word became her absolute standard. She discovered that God’s Word declared her chosen, loved, redeemed, daughter, forgiven – and so on. She traded her worldly labels for God’s Word.
We have the privilege and responsibility to choose our words wisely. When we speak life, we build a solid foundation filled with the hope of Christ.
Today’s Secret from the Studio:
Words are powerful so choose your words carefully.
Monica Schmelter is the host of Bridges aired on Christian Television Network which airs in over 50 million homes. Monica enjoys spending time with her husband and is very excited about her son’s upcoming wedding.
