I made a mistake. I let my tongue get the better of me, and it set me back in my effort to become a godly man. How could I do such a thing? The truth is simple: I am human. I am still learning, still being shaped by Christ.
If my tongue had a driver’s license, it would have been revoked by now. What good did my words do? None. They only revealed pride and wounded both myself and others.
The Power of Words
James reminds us that “the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts… it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:5,8). A slip of the tongue can ruin someone who is striving to live faithfully. Our words matter, whether spoken in pride, anger, or carelessness.
Yes, we are human. Yes, we stumble. But those who want to walk closely with Christ must take their words seriously.
Owning the Wrong
Now comes the hard part: I must admit my wrongdoing. First to God—because every sin is against Him—and then to the person I offended. Asking for forgiveness is not optional; it’s the only way forward.
But repentance is more than an apology. It means putting a plan in place so I don’t repeat the same mistake. It means guarding my tongue, slowing down before I speak, and letting the Spirit check my pride.
Grace in the Stumble
Even in failure, there’s grace. When we confess, God forgives (1 John 1:9). When we humble ourselves, He restores us. What the enemy wants to use as shame, God transforms into growth.
I don’t want to excuse my sin. This was avoidable, unnecessary, and driven by pride. But I also don’t want to let it define me. Instead, I’ll let it remind me that I need Christ every moment—even in my speech.
Moving Forward
If you’ve slipped too, don’t wait. Admit it quickly. Ask forgiveness from God and from anyone you’ve hurt. Then, learn from it and keep walking forward.
Hold your tongue when pride rises. Save your breath for words that build up, not tear down. With God’s help, we can do better—and we must.