Words matter. How we say them, who we say them to and the heart behind them. Sometimes the smallest word can have an incredible impact on your heart. Well-timed words of encouragement from a friend can be like medicine to a hurting soul.

I have been so blessed over the past few months by what God has been speaking into my life. A verse I have heard my entire life John 3:16 speaks some of the sweetest words about love. This is a precious verse that we as believers can rest on, walk on, hang our faith on and trust in. Words matter and there is one word in this verse that I just cannot get out of my mind. “For God so loved the world that He gave his only son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

We have a habit in our society of throwing words around. We “love” our spouse, but we also “love” pizza. Words matter. Our Heavenly Father put the context for love in motion when he gave us John 3:16 and that little word “so.” He could have easily said “He loved us” and that would have been incredible, but He went a step further and said He “so” loved us. So many blessings are wrapped up in that little word. The God of this universe loved you and me enough to send His only son to die so that we could have everlasting life.

We are blessed to be loved by, “so loved,” by the One who created us. He speaks blessings over us, peace around us and strength into us. This world is so quick to tear down and devalue, but His words speak life and truth and freedom. This precious Savior so loved you and me, and His word continues to save souls. I truly believe God is reminding me through this little word “so” that words matter, people matter, and how I love them matters. We are on a mission as believers to spread the gospel in our circles as well as outside our circles. We are to spread the gospel to those that don’t look like us or dress like us, and how we do that matters. The words we use, how we say them, and who we say the to, the heart behind them, it all matters.