Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

Good morning, friends!

Yesterday, we had a heart-to-heart about the power of the tongue, digging into James 3:5–8. If you missed that post, go back and give it a read—it sets the stage for today. We talked about how our words, just like a spark in a dry forest, can set a whole life ablaze. It was heavy, but necessary. Today, we’re continuing that journey with James 3:7–12, where James takes us even deeper into the paradox of the human mouth: the same mouth that sings praises to God also curses the very people He made.

Ouch.

James doesn’t hold back, and neither should we. We need this. Our souls need this kind of wake-up call.

Let’s just start with the realness of it all. James says we’ve tamed every kind of animal—lions, dolphins, birds, snakes—but we haven’t been able to tame our own tongues. And isn’t that the truth? We can train our dogs to sit and fetch, but we can’t keep ourselves from blurting out gossip, sarcasm, or harsh criticism. We can teach parrots to say “hello” but can’t stop ourselves from throwing shade online. The tongue, James says, is “a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” Let that sink in.

And before you go thinking this is just about what we say out loud, remember what we talked about yesterday: it’s not just the tongue, it’s the thumbs. In this digital age, our phones have become a second mouth. Our texts, tweets, comments, and DMs are all just extensions of our words. So yeah, we need to talk about that too.

Let’s get super practical. Because while James says the tongue can’t be tamed, that doesn’t mean we’re off the hook. He’s not saying “give up, it’s hopeless.” He’s saying we can’t do it alone. But with God? That’s a different story.

So what do we do?

1. Shut up more often (Yes, I said it.)

I mean this with love: we need to talk less.

Proverbs 10:19 puts it bluntly: “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”

It’s wisdom that’s survived the test of time for a reason. The more I talk, the more likely I am to say something I’ll regret. The more I post, the more chances I have to stir up drama or make things worse. I’ve had to learn (sometimes the hard way) that silence is golden—and protective.

When I hold back my words, I don’t have to do damage control later. I don’t lay awake at night wondering if I crossed a line or hurt someone I care about. I don’t have to apologize for things I wish I could take back. Silence might feel weak or passive in the moment, but it can actually be one of the most powerful acts of self-control.

2. Hit pause before you speak or type

Think before you speak. We all know the phrase, but how often do we actually live it out?

One question I try to ask myself is: Why am I saying this? Is it because I need to feel important? Because I’m angry or annoyed? Because I want to prove I’m right?

Or am I saying it to build someone up? To encourage? To point someone to God?

You’d be surprised how often the honest answer is the wrong one.

Another great filter is this: Would I be okay if Jesus was standing next to me while I typed this comment or said this joke? Because spoiler alert—He is.

3. Don’t feel obligated to be in every conversation

You don’t need to have an opinion about everything. Let me say that again: You don’t need to have an opinion about everything.

And even if you do, you don’t need to share it.

I’ve learned to ask myself: Is this my conversation? If not, I keep scrolling. I don’t need to add to the noise. I don’t need to weigh in on every Facebook debate, every viral controversy, every coworker rant.

You are not the Holy Spirit. You don’t have to convict or correct every person. And let’s be real: most of the time, you won’t change someone’s mind anyway. But you can damage a relationship. You can plant seeds of bitterness. You can lose your witness.

So be wise. Let silence be your strength.

4. Make your words a fountain, not a fire

James gives us this powerful image in verse 11: “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” The obvious answer is no.

So why do we let both blessings and curses come from our mouths?

One moment we’re singing along to worship music or posting Bible verses, and the next we’re mocking someone or gossiping about a friend. Something doesn’t add up. James says it shouldn’t be this way—and we know that. Deep down, we feel that conviction.

So what if we turned our mouths—and our thumbs—into fountains of blessing? What if we trained ourselves to speak life? To compliment someone instead of criticizing? To encourage instead of tear down? To bless instead of belittle?

We can’t tame our tongues alone. But God can help us transform them.

5. Remember who people are

James reminds us that we curse “people made in God’s likeness.” That phrase wrecks me every time.

When I insult someone, when I mock, gossip, or judge—I’m doing it to someone God handcrafted. Someone God loved enough to die for. Someone who reflects His image.

Let’s be honest: we all have people who annoy us, frustrate us, make us want to scream. But that person who cuts you off in traffic? Made in God’s image. That coworker who always takes credit for your work? Made in God’s image. That politician, celebrity, ex-friend, or annoying family member? Still made in God’s image.

And if I really believe that, it changes how I speak to them—and about them.

6. Let your mouth match your mission

You say you follow Jesus? Awesome. Then your mouth should reflect that.

We’re called to love, not lash out. We’re called to bless, not belittle. We’re called to show grace, not gossip. And if our tongues (or thumbs) are saying something different, we’ve got some soul work to do.

This doesn’t mean we never speak hard truths. But it does mean we speak them in love. It means we check our tone. It means we ask God to purify our hearts before we open our mouths.

7. Practice praising God more

Here’s the beautiful twist in James 3: the same tongue that can do so much harm can also be used for good. For praising God. For building people up. For telling the truth. For sharing hope. For comforting the hurting. For praying. For teaching. For laughing in joy.

Let that be your new default.

Start your day praising God. Out loud. In song. In prayer. Let praise be the first thing your mouth does.

Then go through your day looking for chances to encourage someone else. Tell a friend how much they mean to you. Compliment a stranger. Speak life into your kids. Text a prayer to someone who’s struggling. Leave a voice memo telling someone you’re proud of them.

It sounds simple, but these things matter. Words can either poison or heal. They can burn down or build up. They can break hearts or breathe life into them.

So today, let’s choose to speak life.

Let’s challenge ourselves this week: Speak less, listen more, and when you do speak, let it be love.

You may not be able to tame your tongue completely, but by the grace of God, you can transform what comes out of it.

Here’s your Sunday takeaway:

If it doesn’t build, bless, or bring life—don’t say it.

And remember what your mama used to say: If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

Turns out, she might’ve been quoting James without even knowing it.

Be encouraged, friend. You’re not alone in this. We’re all a work in progress, and God isn’t done with us yet.

Let’s be different. Let’s be better. Let’s be people whose words bring light, not fire.

See you next time.