Speaking Life: The Biblical Significance of Words
Words have power. They can heal, build up, encourage and transform. Words can also tear down and destroy. And sometimes, a single word can change everything. In fact, the Bible speaks often about how powerful our words can be:
Proverbs 16:24 (NIV): Kind words are like honey — sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Proverbs 18:21 (NIV): The tongue has the power of life and death.
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV): Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.
Whether spoken aloud or written down, our words carry weight. They can offer comfort to someone in pain or courage to someone who feels afraid. Many of us can remember a moment from childhood when a kind teacher, coach or family member said something we’ve never forgotten. That’s the power of words.
A 21st century Jewish rabbi once shared this striking statement about the power of words:
"Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement or destructively use words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble."
Words Can Bring Light and Hope
At Compassion, we see this truth in action every day. When a sponsor sends a message to the child they sponsor, it’s more than just words on a page. It’s love, encouragement and identity spoken into a young person’s life.
Sixteen-year-old Yair lives with epilepsy. Because of his condition, he can’t attend school and often struggles with anxiety and discouragement. But when he reads the messages written by his sponsors, he says something changes.
"When I get sad, I read the letters the people who sponsor me send. I feel the power of God in the letters. What they say helps me calm down and see things from a different perspective... Reading those letters fills me with love. It is a light I find.” — Yair
The words of his sponsors remind him that he is not alone. Instead, he’s loved and has hope.
A Lasting Legacy
Even a short note or simple sentence can leave a lasting impact on the life of a child living in poverty. If we let them, words can be a light, a source of strength and a reminder of God's love.
If you sponsor a child, never underestimate the power of a simple message. What you say matters and children will treasure reading your words.
“I want to keep receiving letters,” Yair says. “It changes my mind. It fills me with love.”
