Words carry more power than we often realize. Joni Eareckson Tada draws from her own marriage and daily life to show what genuine affirmation looks like in practice: not flattery, but honest declarations of the good we see in others. With warmth and specificity, she offers simple, actionable ways to use your words to lift hearts and reflect the love of Christ to the people around you.
This article originally appeared in the Just Between Us Weekly Digital Magazine.
By Joni Eareckson Tada
Sometimes the Bible asks an awful lot of us. Take Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:36, “I tell you that everyone will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.” One day we’ll have to explain our every word! Obviously God places a great deal of importance on what we say—words have a curious power to make living things wither and die, or bring dead things to life. As it says in Proverbs 18:21, “The tongue has the power of life and death.”
We women possess such incredible power–all in what we say. It’s something I’ve especially learned being a quadriplegic married to my strong, able-bodied husband. I may not be able to whip up an omelet for him or rub his back, but I can honor and uplift him with words that give life, hope, and encouragement. It’s what I do every day with Ken. I will tell him, “Ken, thank you for going to visit that neighbor who has cancer… that was a thoughtful thing to do.” Or, “Ken, I’m so grateful you’re a man of prayer–God bless you for always taking the lead and inviting people to pray. Good for you!”
Want more encouragement? Read the full article in Just Between Us Magazine on Substack—your weekly source of biblical encouragement for women.
