The Power of Our Words

The Power of Our Words

““For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God’s Word is never wasted. Every word He speaks accomplishes its purpose to convict, comfort, or call His people back to Himself. That divine truth holds a mirror up to us. The words we speak also carry purpose and power. They go out, they land somewhere, and they either build up or tear down.

James writes, “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body” (James 3:2). Our speech is not just a reflection of our thoughts—it’s a measure of our spiritual maturity. Like God’s Word, our words have consequence. They will not return void.

James warns that “the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things” (James 3:5). With it, we bless God and curse people made in His image. The same tongue that can speak blessing can also unleash destruction.

“but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”‭‭ James‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Our words, once spoken, take on a life of their own. They go out like arrows that cannot be called back. Words of encouragement bring healing. Words of bitterness or pride pierce and scar.

Even words of correction and admonishment—when done rightly—should aim at redemption, not destruction. Discipline and rebuke have their place, but their godly purpose is always restoration. In parenting, discipline is meant to train, not humiliate. In friendships and church life, correction should invite repentance, not rejection.

What do these corrective examples have in common? They take place in covenant relationships—places where love, trust, and accountability exist. Within these relationships, the roots are deep enough to bear the weight of truth.

In covenant relationships like family, marriage, and church, gentle correction protects love and preserves unity. But outside of those relationships, when words of correction are loosed, they often wound instead of heal.

Political discourse, for example, has a role in a democratic society, but it’s not a covenantal one. The purpose there is to challenge ideas, not shepherd souls. When we take the tone of a parent correcting a child or a pastor confronting sin and apply it to strangers or opponents in the political theater, the outcome is rarely positive.

Social media magnifies this danger and offers near endless opportunity to offend. It tempts us to speak quickly, harshly, and thoughtlessly to people we don’t know and with whom we share no relational capital. The distance between hearts and screens makes it easy to forget the image of God on the other side. The result can be eroded trust and damaged testimony

James offers us a better way: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James‬ ‭3:17-18

The words we send out carry power, so let them carry this kind of wisdom. Let them sow peace and not strife. Before we speak, before we post, before we correct—let’s ask:

1. Will these words accomplish the purpose of peace or pride?
2. Do I have the relationship to say this in love?
3. Am I speaking as a minister of reconciliation or merely as a critic?
   

Every word we speak goes somewhere. Every word we send out bears fruit. May ours, like God’s, never return void—but instead accomplish what is good, redemptive, and true.