Ways Our Words Can Give Grace to Those Who Hear (Ephesians 4:29-32)
Inside: Our words carry weight. This passage in Ephesians has been reminding me how the Lord calls us to speak with care and grace.
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. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:29-32
These are just a few thoughts from my journal as I’ve been sitting with this passage.
Reading this passage in Ephesians reminds me that gracious speech isn’t just about holding back unkind words. It is also about choosing words that actually help the person in front of us. Words the Lord can use to encourage and point others to Him.
According to these verses, our words give grace when they are:
Helpful and not harmful:
Our words should help, not hurt. I want my words to be words that build up, leaving people encouraged rather than discouraged because of something I said. This doesn’t mean we never say hard things. It means even difficult words are spoken with care and a desire to help, not to harm.
Spoken with care:
Timing matters. The same words can feel very different depending on when they’re spoken.
Kind and gentle in tone:
Kindness shows up not only in what we say, but also in how we say it. Gentleness reveals a heart that is resting in the Lord rather than trying to control the outcome of a conversation.
Free from bitterness and harshness:
When bitterness or anger is in our hearts, it will almost always come out in our words. Our speech often reveals what we need to bring before the Lord.
Compassionate speech:
We don’t always see what someone else is walking through. As we keep that in mind (because I think so often others don’t know what I’m walking through), it helps me to slow down and respond with more care.
A heart that forgives:
Gracious speech flows from forgiveness. When we remember how much we’ve been forgiven, it changes the way we speak to others.
Christ’s mercy:
Remembering how Jesus has dealt with me makes it easier to extend that same kindness to others.
Closing:
Most of us are still learning this, especially with the people closest to us. I know I am. The Lord is patient with us, and I’m thankful He keeps working in our hearts as we learn to speak with more care and keep growing in speaking with grace.
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