“Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3

Gossip

Recently, I learned that a relative of mine said something very hurtful about me. These words were spoken years ago, but since they were typed out via technology, I accidentally stumbled upon them while cleaning out some files. Suddenly, the words were in front of my face.

My heart was broken. I questioned God, “Is this how everyone sees and thinks about me? Am I completely unlovable?” 

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit”  (Proverbs 18:21).

Our words have more power than we realize. We know that words are powerful, because with a word, God created everything. “For He spoke, and it came to be. He commanded, and it stood firm” (Psalm 33:9).

My relatives were most likely having a dialogue that they have since forgotten and certainly never imagined I would hear or see. Time would forget and erase the words, right? But the words I read that day had as much power as if they had just been spoken. It didn’t matter that they were actually spoken years ago.  

I did the only thing I know to do when my heart is breaking. Instead of discussing this situation with any other person, I began to pray. I asked the LORD to guide me. First of all, there was no question that I would choose to forgive. Haven’t I been forgiven of every sin? I have been careless with my words, too. My words have hurt other people. I am without excuse. The next step was that I determined to not ever mention what I had read, but to pray for healing in all of the relationships involved in this matter. And then, I was free to rest. I had given it to God. I can trust Him with the outcome. 

Today, I want to challenge you to stop complaining about other people. Stop saying thoughtless, negative comments about people. Who are you or who am I to judge another person’s heart? Even if there is something I don’t enjoy about another person, I do not know what made that person that way. Maybe there is a hurt or a need that only God can see. Maybe He has that person in a process. Aren’t we all in some type of process? 

Instead of just stewing inside when something bothers us, we are to take it directly to the throne of God (Philippians 4:6). We are to leave it there (1 Peter 5:7). We are to pray for those who hurt us and bless them in return (Matthew 5:44). But we are NEVER to gossip or complain (James 5:9).

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for reminding us of the power of words. We choose to forgive any words that have hurt us, and we repent of our own careless words. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”