“Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts.” – Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of Wind
I have long been intrigued by the power of words and what they can do to a soul. My two-year-old loves to talk and spoke his first word when he was only 8 months old. Then, he would use single, simple words to communicate. Now that he is two, he can almost communicate like an adult.
I am amazed at how he can so accurately verbalise his needs at such a young age! He has even discovered expressions for his words. For example, if he is happy, he smiles and says, “I am happy!” When he is confused, his eyebrows scrunch together. If he is upset, he frowns and his voice turns sulky. He has learned that words have accompanying expressions. In fact, throughout the day, he never stops learning. My hope is that I too will never stop learning.
Communication is essential for every healthy relationship, including our relationship with God. The more time we spend with Him, the more we get to know Him and His love for us. This is the reason we read the Word – it’s a way of speaking with God. Reading the Bible and praying are inseparable.
God has spoken to us in the past, and He continues to speak to us today. Through the reading of His Word, I can hear His voice. The Holy Spirit equips me each day as I study God’s Word and meditate on it. May I grow closer to Jesus and be transformed into His likeness as I spend time in His presence.
Life changes start with a heart change. It is now among the greatest strengths of my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I believe in the power of truth because unless I believe, I will not fully own it or fully live it.
Every day, I get to listen to my two-year-old who gives me a detailed account of his experiences in the sweetest voice. In fact, listening to a two-year-old isn’t just interesting, it’s amazing! I pay attention to him while he shares his experiences, even the imaginary ones about polar bears and stars. I show him that I care through my curiosity and questions – and you can believe that he is never short on answers!
Most of the time, beneath those layers of daily conversation, I’ve found the deep stuff, the good stuff. It turns out that it’s quite easy to point to the goodness of God in his real or imaginary stories alike. And so many times, these little talks are so relative to my current relationship with God. I am reminded that He has all the time in the world for me, to hear my stories and answer my questions. May I always choose to listen.
One of my greatest roles, one in which I delight the most, is the role of a mother. As a mother, I have to make a very conscious effort daily regarding which words to use – words that will not instil fear, but courage and love.
In this season, I have come to understand that it is ultimately God’s Word and grace that help me on a daily basis. I want to use my words – written, spoken or sung – to spark dreams and inspire hearts. I have my own fears to overcome, but my hope is to become disciplined in the Word and become the very best version of myself – the person I was created to be.
The Word of God ultimately always points us to God. It comes alongside to tell us to look to God and His promises and to trust in His faithfulness. Because, ultimately, both our strength to keep going and our greatest encouragement come from God.
Contributed by Vandana Andrews Henry
Vandana is a doctor who’s passionate about quality healthcare for the underprivileged. In her spare time, she loves to read and bake. She lives in Delhi with her lovely husband and an inquisitive toddler.