The Power of Words to Crush—or Call
- Evelyn Collins
- 23 hours ago
- 4 min read
‘No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.’ — Isaiah 54:17 KJV
During the summer of 2019, I rose early to watch the sunrise over the blue ocean. Alone on the beach, the only sound was the continuous roar as waves crashed on the shore. I strolled barefoot along the sandy shore, searching for beautiful seashells among the broken ones. Then I slowed near an unattractive shell shaped like a comma that caught my attention. I stopped and stared. Unconsciously, I knew the Creator captivated me with the shell. He drew me close enough to perceive His message in the shell—Pause! So I stood still in wonder, surrounded by God’s unspoiled creation, before lifting my phone to take a picture of the most memorable moment in my life. It was at that moment that I realized I'd been called to write.
Understanding the Importance of Effective Communication
After my experience at the beach, it was a summer of typing notes and snapping photos whenever God revealed to me an undeniable awareness of Him through creation. Each time this happened, my yearning to write about Him grew, and my desire to know Him consumed me. A sense of the significance of words hung over me whenever I wrote. Whether spoken or written, words have power.
One day, Kelly, my friend, invited me to a local group of Christian writers dedicated to honing their craft. Their mutual love of writing and their desire to encourage and strengthen others were the support I needed. After I joined the group, my writing skills grew. For five years, I contributed to my friend Katherine’s website. But recently, I experienced a block. It was the first time I didn't know what to write, and the deadline to send her my blog loomed.
Seven Simple Words
Later that morning, after I spent quiet time with God, I read a post on Substack. Will Parker Anderson entitled the post “Words that crush us” under “The Writers Circle.” It was about seven simple words spoken to him that crushed his spirit. For almost two decades, he knew what God called him to do, but he hesitated because of thoughtless advice until someone saw potential and encouraged him to write.
Suddenly, uncontrollable tears streamed down my face as pent-up emotions surfaced. I reached for a tissue while tears flowed, and relief flooded me. God uncovered the dreadful memory of a critique where someone’s harsh criticism plunged me into deep despair. After forgiving her, I thought everything was well, but it didn’t erase the words stuck in my head. I then realized I'd doubted my ability to write about a vibrant life full of God's riches. The craft of writing for the Lord is more than grammar; it requires submission to Jesus, allowing him to heal the hurt caused by criticism.
God has the Power to Remove the Sting of Careless Words
Most of us have felt the sting of careless comments that create doubt or fear, which are strongholds that hinder us from obeying God. However, as believers in Christ, God gave us a helper, the Holy Spirit, who lives within us and has divine power to destroy strongholds.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Eph. 4:29, NIV).
Buried deep in my subconscious, the idea that I’m unqualified to write for the Lord remained. Doubt and fear crept in and created a stumbling block to prevent me from moving forward with God’s promise. I doubted my ability to write, so I struggled for months. I continued to write, but my heart was hollow. Words either didn’t come or were lifeless. I told myself that many writers have dry seasons when it’s difficult to write. I believed the lie rather than God and the encouraging evaluation from other writers.
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:2-3, NIV).How to Combat Being Hindered
Unknowingly, careless words hindered my ability to write. The blame is mine; I allowed my focus to shift from what God spoke into my life. Praise God! He led me to Will’s blog and revealed that my confidence is in Him and not in myself. He is my source and strength.
I find comfort in God about my future; He is sovereign and will provide as He has promised. As a believer in Christ, the Holy Spirit lives within me. Yes, I have hardships, but He is the divine power I lean upon. My strength comes from the joy of the Lord because He is the only source of genuine joy and the living water that sustains and will never perish. There is no limit to His provisions. Even in stressful situations, I pray that I never lose the joy of the Lord again. I will live my life believing God’s promises and pointing others to Him.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for deeming lies the truth rather than clinging to what you call me to do. When I look at others, my focus shifts away, and I stumble. Help me remain focused and close to you. Please restore what the enemy has taken from me. I am thankful for the individuals in my life who encourage me to persevere. Your plans are grander than I conceive. When I lean on you, the possibilities are endless. I am thankful for your presence and surrender the outcome to you. You are my anchor in the storms of life. Amen.
Your turn: When were you the recipient of untrue words that harmed you? If so, did you respond with doubt, anger, or did you believe the lie? If you remained steadfast and joyful, what sustained you and gave you the confidence to move forward? How did you avoid being crushed by careless words?
Reference
Anderson, Will Parker. “Words That Crush Us.” The Writer’s Circle, Substack.
Beautiful post!