Vibrant, Valued and Victorious!

Words matter. That seems fairly obvious because without them we would be unable to communicate. Sometimes that might not be so bad! “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” (Prov. 10:19 NIV) There is much wisdom in thinking before we speak. Communication is very important but it is also critical how we communicate.

Have you ever been enjoying your day with a wonderful attitude and outlook only to have it shattered by someone’s careless comment? Maybe there is truth to what has been said or maybe not. The result is a feeling of being deflated, devalued and defeated! A few words have just taken all the air out of your balloon and set you on a downward spiral. How do you recover?

Words do matter and the words that matter most are the Words of God. Nothing can deflate you faster than an unexpected critical word. At these moments I can almost literally feel the strength and life within me draining out as if I had a slow leak! Desperate to patch the leak and get pumped back up this doesn’t always happen quickly. Isaiah tells us that God “gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isa. 40:28-31 NIV) You might not get pumped back up instantly but God will not leave you deflated. His promise is for the long haul, so don’t be discouraged in the moment. Wait upon God and experience His restoration (reinflation!).

When we are criticized we can often fall into the trap of feeling worthless. Everything we have done has been for nothing! The dozen things we did right have been erased by the one thing we did wrong! It is in this setting that Satan seeks to make you feel devalued, less than what God intends. How does God see you? “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matt. 6:26 NIV) How valuable are you to God? “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet.” (Ps. 8:4-6 NIV) I’d say that God sees you as priceless! See yourself though His eyes!

We all want to achieve and accomplish but a careless comment can bring us down into a mindset of defeat in an instant. Defeat leads to discouragement and it is not long until we just want to give up. Yet we need to focus upon the perspective of God when it comes to our journey. In the midst of their apparent defeat God’s people were reminded, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful.” (Jer. 31:3-4 NIV) God has the last word and for His people it is victory!

When we receive critical comments we need to evaluate them for truth. If there are things that we need to change we should take action. If there are things we need to make right then we should seek restoration. If there are apologies to be made then we should humble ourselves and seek forgiveness. But if there is no truth in the attack then we should ignore it and trust the Word of God! “Therefore we make it our aim . . . to be well pleasing to Him.” (2 Cor. 5:9 NKJ)
Seeking to please Him!
Larry