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Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.

— Proverbs 12:25

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When was the last time you heard a good word? Maybe it was gifted to you by a friend. Maybe it formed out of silence. Or maybe it rose from the pages of Scripture.

I chose to share Proverbs 12:25 today because I tend to overestimate anxiety’s power and underestimate what God can do with a good word. 

While anxiety may weigh us down, it, in reality, has no substance. Using a lot of smoke and mirrors, anxiety compounds and confuses the real difficulties of living, stripping us of the strength that we need to take on whatever the day may hold.

There is hope, though. According to the proverb, while anxiety might weigh us down, just a single good word can reverse its effects, offering us courage in exchange for despair.

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people . . . (Psalm 85:8)

I think we’d do a better job listening to God and others if we understood the power of a good word.

Response

My challenge for you this week has two parts. First, I want to remind you to pray for ears to hear and a heart to perceive what the Spirit is speaking to you. It may be a single word, it may be a sentence, it may be paragraphs. The bottom line is God still speaks.

For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. (Job 33:14)

“People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

Second, I invite you to listen for the good word God’s Spirit wants to speak through you. I guarantee there are people in your world whose heart and feet are heavy with the cares of life. They’ve been feeding on the bread of anxious toil, and their strength is spent. Don’t feel pressure to manufacture something for them, but sacrifice some of your attention to God and see what He gives you to share. Giving a good word is more powerful, after all, than receiving one.

Closing Thoughts

Please don’t let this week pass without creating space for the Spirit to speak to and through you. Anxiety wants to maintain its illusion of strength but don’t believe its lies. Open your ears and be courageous, my friend. The Father’s words become real to us as we hear and obey them.

Listening with you,

Addison

P.S. I write a good amount on anxiety and prayer in my book Words with God, specifically in the chapter “I Am Here.” If you’re new to this community or don’t have the book yet, just click here to get your copy. (It’s available via book, eBook, and audiobook . . . and in Spanish!)

P.P.S. If you’d like to also receive these prayer guides via text, click here.