Is it possible our unwholesome talk grieves the Holy Spirit?

Ephesians 4:29-31 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

What a curious triplet of verses. They answer the opening question with an unquestionable “Yes”.

Grief befalls all people and is easy to identify with once you’ve gone down that sorrow-lined street following the death of a family member, close friend, beloved pet, or the demise of a long-standing relationship. While the causes vary, the emotional responses are similar. A sadness penetrates our hearts. Tears come. Dark anguish may sweep over us. This foreboding, uninvited change pains us to the core and rocks our world.

But for the Holy Spirit to grieve seems so out of the ordinary.

But the Bible reveals He does. To make matters worse, it’s the forgiven believers who are at fault.

Curiosity nudged me to figure out why this particular truth is tucked between two verses zeroing in on our often stinky, human, un-Christlike, attitudes and behaviors? What is God trying to teach us?

Because of God’s great love for us, truth isn’t cloaked in heavy-laden legalism. It is a lot more like an Oreo cookie. Like the outer cookie layers, our hardened hearts need change, but the sheer joy of the Holy Spirit’s love is like the soft, sweet frosting in the middle. In fact, many of us would rather pull the cookie apart, skip the outer shell and indulge in the frosting first.

The Holy Spirit is our advocate.

The Holy Spirit is the presence of Christ in us, our God-given counselor and closest friend. He is nearer than our next breath. Shouldn’t we live to bring Him glory rather than grief?

1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit who is in you, who you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 

We have choices to make.

Much of life is about the choices we make. We can speak from bitter hearts or love for others. We can spread gossip or be a shoulder for others to lean on. It’s up to us to make good decisions based on Christ-centered truths or we can make a bad day worse for our neighbors. With our eyes on Jesus, and appreciation for the Holy Spirit’s role as our number one counselor, we are unlikely to grieve the Holy Spirit.

Prayerfully examine your own outer cookie.

It’s when emotions get ahead of prayer that troubles can head our way. Be honest. Look within. Think of the conversations you’ve had in the last 48 hours. Did unkind words or harmful behaviors show up? If so, stop! Repent. Yield to the Holy Spirit’s will for you.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.