Too frequently I say words in haste. But there was a season when I said terrible, heretical, damnable words about God and his word, and I was quite certain I meant every one of them. Fortunately, I was surrounded by people who understood the difference between words with roots on my heart, and words spoken in the haze of bitterness, uncertainty and suffering.
In this article written two years before that season of my life, Pastor John helps us see the difference between words that deserve reproving and words ‘spoken on the wind.’
Job 6:26
Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind?
In grief and pain and despair people often say things they otherwise would not say. They paint reality with darker strokes than they will paint it tomorrow when the sun comes up. They sing in minor keys and talk as though that is the only music. They see clouds only and speak as if there were no sky.
They say, “Where is God?” Or: “There is no use to go on.” Or: “Nothing makes any sense.” Or: There’s no hope for me.” Or: “If God were good this couldn’t have happened.”
What shall we do with these words?
Job says that we do not need to reprove them. These words are wind, or literally “for the wind.” They will be quickly blown away. There will come a turn in circumstances and the despairing person will waken from the dark night and regret hasty words.
Therefore, the point is, let us not spend our time and energy reproving such words. They will be blown away of themselves on the wind. One need not clip the leaves in autumn. It is a wasted effort. They will soon blow off of themselves.
O how quickly we are given to defending God, or sometimes the truth, from words that are only for the wind. If we had discernment we could tell the difference between the words with roots and the words blowing in the wind.
There are words with roots in deep error and deep evil. But not all grey words get their color from a black heart. Some are colored mainly by the pain, the despair. What you hear is not the deepest thing within. There is something real within where they come from. But it is temporary—like a passing infection—real, painful, but not the true person.
Let us learn to discern whether the words spoken against us or against God or against the truth are merely for the wind—spoken not from the soul, but from the sore. If they are for the wind, let us wait in silence and not reprove. Restoring the soul not reproving the sore is the aim of our love.
Learning to listen to the soul,
Pastor John
John Piper, “When Words Are Wind,” November 10, 1993 Taste and See Article
The Works of God 
Thanks for sharing this article. It is a very helpful distinction to make when seeking to care for those who are walking through difficult trials. I know I am very grateful for those around me who have restored my soul instead of reproving me the many times I have said things for the wind over the past year and a half.
Thanks for this John.
I know that I have been all too quick to reprove others (especially my wife), instead of taking the time to really listen before speaking.
I have listened to David Powlison’s sermon called “Jesus Christ is not one size fits all” (Link Below) many times over the past few years. It does not deal directly with disability, but it does parallel this thought, when it talks about how to apply the gospel differently to the brokenhearted. It has served me in ministering to my wife and others when hard times are upon them.
http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=A2090-04-51
Jason