The Seemingly Simple Things We Say
“…[I]t is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!” Proverbs 15:23 NLT
When was the last time a few simple words completely changed your day, providing perspective and hope? The truth is, it’s the seemingly simple things we say that often make a tremendous difference to someone else. Simple phrases such as: You’ve got this, Don’t quit, Keep going, or I believe in you, are all powerful agents that motivate, inspire and bring encouragement to others. This became crystal clear to me on two different occasions during my recent visit to the breathtaking Yellowstone National Park.
The First Time
Fifteen minutes had passed since Old Faithful was scheduled to erupt. Up until this point, my husband and I had only seen lots of smoke and a few small, (four or five feet high), eruptions of water. Although semi-impressive, this was nowhere near what we were hoping for, and certainly nothing like what we knew “Old Faithful" was capable of. Was this perhaps his typical pre-show? We weren’t sure.
Five more minutes passed, and then another five, and still only smoke and occasional spurts of water, yet, nothing like the massive geyser we were expecting and hoping to see. Should we keep waiting? We weren’t sure, and truthfully, I was beginning to feel a bit discouraged.
It was precisely at this time; we both heard the following seemingly simple words from a woman in the crowd: “It’s worth the wait”. These words were spoken with complete confidence and assurance and immediately my hope level began to rise, as did my husband’s. As a result, we resumed our focused waiting position, yet this time with a renewed expectation and anticipation. And boy am I glad we did, as not long after, Old Faithful, true to his name and reputation, came through for us, with a grand eruption of water!
The Second Time
A couple of days later, my husband and I were on a trail that included steep inclines and hundreds of stairs, making it a semi- strenuous hike. Still, in order to experience the lovely view, the upward climb was required. As we hiked, we passed several winded hikers, one individual resting at the side of the trail, and we even overheard a couple discussing the fact that they could have driven rather than hike to the summit.
Forty-five minutes later, my calves began to experience “the burn” And while this didn’t hinder me from pressing on, a little encouragement is always welcomed and helpful. And this is exactly what I received, as a fellow hiker descending from the summit uttered these seemingly simple words in passing, “You’re almost there!” I thanked him, kept climbing, and together with my husband, arrived at the summit to take in the stunning view.
As I reflect upon my experiences, I realize it’s not likely the woman in the crowd, nor the fellow hiker I mentioned, have any clue the impact their words had on me, or that their actions inspired this post! Yet their words were in fact impactful and inspiring.
But most significantly, these individuals reminded me that it’s not necessarily the profound, deep, wise, witty, insightful things we share that make a difference. Instead, it’s often the seemingly simple things we say that have the potential of making a positive impact on somebody’s life. Words are powerful. Yet they are only effective if they are shared. And the good news is, this is something we all can and must do.
So today, let’s commit to use our words for the purpose of empowering others, remembering that God is faithful. And He will use our words, even the seemingly simple ones, to inspire and encourage others.
Pray
Father God, thank you for the blessing of words, the ability to speak, and the privilege of communicating with others. I recognize these all as gifts you have entrusted to me. I understand that words matter, and even the seemingly simple ones can make a profound difference in someone’s life. So please help me to use my words wisely, intentionally, and purposefully. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.
Reflect
Can you think of a time when you were encouraged, or you encouraged someone else by sharing seemingly simple words? What was that time? What were those words?
Friends, I’d love to hear your experience! Feel free to share your responses in the comment section below, or with me and others HERE!