Joy in the Journey: The Power of Blessing

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”

-Numbers 6:24-26

Words carry power. They can heal or harm, encourage or discourage, make someone's day or keep them up at night. They are easy to speak but impossible to take back. Words have the power to break or restore relationships. In Numbers 6, God gives His people a blessing as a gift spoken aloud to cover others with grace, protection, and peace. This blessing was not meant to be silent or observed; it was meant to be spoken over His people. Words with the power to bless.

The Christmas story is filled with spoken blessing and great joy. When Jesus is born, the first announcement is not delivered to kings or crowds, but to shepherds in the fields, ordinary people doing ordinary work. The angels speak words that change everything: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." (Luke 2:10). Before anyone sees the baby, they hear God's blessing in words of hope, peace, and joy spoken into the dark of night.

Those around us may find themselves in the middle of a dark night of their own; this matters deeply for how we speak to those who are suffering or struggling. In our schools, churches, and communities, many carry burdens we cannot see: grief, anxiety, exhaustion, loneliness, or despair. Speaking life to them does not mean minimizing their pain or rushing people toward positivity, reminding them to be filled with joy. It means offering words that acknowledge hardship while still pointing toward hope: You are not alone. Like the angels with the shepherds, our words can remind others that God has not forgotten them.

For those of us who serve, teach, and lead, our words shape culture. A thoughtful word can steady a discouraged student. A word of grace can soften a strained relationship with a colleague. A prayer spoken aloud can bring peace into a weary heart. Advent invites us to speak life intentionally, trusting that God uses our words to carry His presence and joy. May our words echo the angel song and the ancient blessing alike, bringing light, peace, and joy into the places and hearts that need it most.

The Power of Blessing

Whose heart needs grace from you this week?

How can I acknowledge someone's struggle without trying to fix it?

How could I speak in a way this week that makes joy feel possible for my students or colleagues, even in the middle of pressure or fatigue?

What words do my students hear most often from me, and do those words leave room for joy?

Prayer

God of joy, As You spoke good news to the shepherds and filled the night with praise and blessing, shape my words to carry that same joy into the lives around me. Teach me to speak blessing where there is weariness, hope where there is struggle, and peace where there is strain. Let my words reflect the grace of Christ and become gifts that bring light to my classroom, my colleagues, and my students. Amen.