Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
I heard a little boy chant these words, then run away in tears as I passed by the school playground on my daily walking route. Some things never change. I remember hearing
those exact words in elementary school, but now I can’t make sense of them. Let’s not kid ourselves, words have power. God spoke the galaxies into existence with words (Genesis 1:3). On a human level, our words also have power. They transfer ideas, heal, educate, and bring laughter. But they also can hurt us in deep places. My husband says it takes “ten atta boys!” to overcome a hurtful comment. I agree.A recent coffee date with a dear friend showed me the power of words. She had been hurt by gossip, slander, fabrications and the careless, ugly words had broken her. “It’s so hard to not react out of hurt,” said my friend. “I will take time and respond in love, but, boy, that can be hard, right?”
Yes, it can! As I looked at her situation from the outside, it was apparent the person who hurt her spoke out of jealousy. My friend is one of the most beautiful, giving, godly 
leaders I know, and the hurt she experienced came out of nowhere. She was trying to walk through it in love, and not return hurtful words, but instead give life and light.
leaders I know, and the hurt she experienced came out of nowhere. She was trying to walk through it in love, and not return hurtful words, but instead give life and light.Words can wound and steal life. Gossip and slander bring a short, cheap thrill that can leave lasting scars. But there are also healing words (Proverbs 12:18). Words of encouragement give courage to those who are weak, afraid, and torn down. “A gentle word turns away wrath.” (Proverbs 15:1)
Luke 6:45 is worth meditating on as we think about the power of words. “Out of the heart the mouth speaks.” Our words become healing as we replace the negativity in our hearts. At some point in our lives, we have all been hurt by words, probably more than we can count. I have. Damaging words can make us doubt our worth and cause us to feel alone. But encouraging words are like a breath of fresh air, moving us forward in positive directions.
I’ve been intentional about speaking positive words over people in my prayers for them. I speak scripture, the Father’s benediction, and bathe my thoughts of them with words like “you are special, you are beautiful, you are loved.” The positive words I pray drown out the negative judgements of the outside world. They are beloved. Words matter.
I read in one of my devotionals that “for us to gain the Father’s benediction, Jesus had to lose it.” At his baptism, Jesus received the good word from on high. On the cross, he heard no word from the Father, only shaming, condemning, deafening silence. The silence did not break Jesus’ bones like sticks and stones, but it broke every other part of Him. It was for our healing. Heaven’s cold silence toward Jesus secured the Father’s “good word” toward us once and for all. The beauty of that truth should melt our hearts and transform our words, giving us the desire to speak healing and love to everyone we meet.