You’re stupid. You’re fat. You’ll never be any good.
Has anyone ever said something that stuck for years? I still remember the guy at our middle school who 
called me ugly. Words like that hurt, especially when you’re already having issues.
Words can not only soothe and calm, but they can also hit so deep they wound forever. They’re what I call emotional bullets. They hit the target deeper than a fist. Regular bruises disappear within days, but emotional bruises last a lifetime.
Ephesians 4:29, Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. We must not allow our words to hurt others. They should be used to teach and to heal, not harm. Too often these days we use our words, whether written or oral, to bully and to hurt others.
Below is a great poem to remember from Richelle E. Goodrich’s book Smile Anyway: Quotes, Verse, & Grumblings for Every Day of the Year.
Silly words cause trills
because they’re ludicrous and funny.
Happy words paint endless smiles
and swallow troubles whole.
Thoughtful words are thus
because they make the day feel sunny.
But hurtful words are such
that pierce the heart and weigh the soul.
Hurtful words cut deep while kind words heal. Make sure to use those that build up and not tear down.
You never know what someone is going through. Your words could be the only kind part of someone’s day. So choose your words wisely. Make sure any words are positive and do not destroy another.
The more you use kind words, the better you will make someone feel. Isn’t it time our emotional bullets heal instead of hurt?
If you or someone you know is in need of prayer this week, please leave a comment. We’d be more than happy to pray for you. And if this post moved you in some way, please feel free to share it.
What a neat blog post. I suffer from low self-esteem and depression and I struggle everyday.
I’m sorry to hear you suffer from low self-esteem and depression. I imagine it is a daily struggle. Just hold on to the Lord. God loves you and will continually be there for you any time you to speak to Him.
This was a neat blog post.
I suffer from low self-esteem and depression and this helps.
Thank you.
I’m sorry to hear that, Linda. I pray for you relief. And don’t forget, you’re a child of God, no matter what others might say. He loves you very much.
I know all too well how “emotional bullets” cause. All through my 45-year marriage I suffered from verbal abuse. Even after he died I still felt the hurt. It takes a well and a lot of God’s love to recover from that. I am free of that now and will never go back.
I’m sorry to hear that you went through that, Ruth. Thankfully your faith in God has helped you heal.