Have you ever had someone say something to you, and years later, you still hear it in your head? Maybe it was a passing comment, “You’ll never be good at this,” or “You’ve got what it takes”. Either way, it stuck like glue.

I can still remember a relative telling me during university that I’d “never make it” in my chosen field of religious studies (joke’s on them now). At the time, though, every time I faced a setback, I’d hear her voice in my head, loud and clear.

Fact is, words don’t just pass through us, they live in us. They shape the stories we tell about ourselves, the decisions we make, and the way we show up in the world. And if we’re honest, we all know this is true… but most of us still underestimate just how much power our words hold.

That’s why Proverbs 18:21 stops me in my tracks every time I read it:

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

This isn’t just about being careful not to offend people or watching your language in polite company. The words we speak can build someone up or tear them down. They can spark hope or shut it down completely. They can even shape the kind of person we become.

Let’s explore this verse together, because if we don’t stop and think about the weight of our words, we might end up carrying things (or causing others to) that we never intended.