“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”

The word soothing in this verse refers to a cure or remedy. It means to bring health and life. What a beautiful truth. Although the word soothing can bring to mind the picture of a mother tenderly speaking to a wounded child, that is not the only image this verse gives us. That can certainly be an element of what this verse is describing, and there is no doubt that there are times in our journey when that is exactly what God knows we need—and He provides it through His Spirit and through brothers and sisters in Christ. But at other times, that soothing voice can be rather firm. It helps us take our minds off a sense of victimhood or disappointment that can often make us feel justified in wanting accommodation—or even revenge—for what we perceive life has done to us. That kind of soothing brings clarity. As we correctly understand who we are in Christ and who He is, we recognize that the things that ruffle or even disrupt our journey are not there to harm us, but are tools God uses in pruning and redeeming our life story. With that perspective, we begin to see those challenges as gifts—gifts that can calm our spirit even in the most troubled times. Perverse means distortion, crookedness, or twistedness. Someone speaking into our lives and spirits in that way will certainly produce anxiety, depression, stress, and even destruction to our soul and our journey. Today cling to the soothing words of life from those God has placed in your life to speak beautiful, healthy truth to your soul—and flee from those with a perverse tongue. #BeTheEdge

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV