"But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison."
James 3:8 NASB1995
Who is ready to try to do the impossible?😆 At first glance, this verse may seem to be stating an impossible task: taming the tongue. In this inspired discourse of James he is not so much setting forth a hopeless venture; but rather, illustratively demonstrating the difference between the hope in godliness versus the hopelessness in worldliness.
The picture begins to be painted in verse 3 of man's ventures in taming the wild. That is, the wild around us, not the wild within us. Man has exceeded in taming beasts and directing large vessels and yet in all of our thousands of years of existence the tongue still rises up in each and every generation as a restless evil.
Worldliness is all the problem and none the solution. Human "wisdom" will not tame the tongue. In fact, the earthly, natural, demonic "wisdom" is the heart of this evil. (v.16). This unnatural and unholy hypocrisy is unfortunately seen in us all. He powerfully and wonderfully and unmistakably shows that through the illustrations of the fountain being unable to bring forth both fresh and bitter water or the fig tree being unable to produce olives. It is not natural. And yet from our tongue come both the blessing unto God and curse unto man, and our own brethren at that!
God is the solution. His law, His way, His Spirit. Look at the wisdom of God and the fruit that it bears in the tongue of man. "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (James 3:17-18) Entrusting your tongue, and submitting your tongue, to the wisdom and way of God brings for life and peace!
No man can tame the tongue, but God can. His wisdom can. This is one of many reasons why our devotion to Bible study, meditation on God's word, and the practice of our studies is so vital and important in our faith and life! If the wisdom of God can tame my tongue then I need the wisdom of God! The place to get that is in prayer, study, and practice.
Do not lose hope. You can tame your tongue by the power of God. It will take work and effort and diligence but you can tame your tongue. I can't speak for you taming anyone else's, but you can tame your own. Focus on that. Start with 5 minutes, work out to 5 hours, then work out to 5 days, and then 5 weeks! Be focused on it and diligent about it each day, continually studying and applying the word and wisdom of God to help you persevere!
Tame the tongue before it bites you! Jesus teaches that your soul may depend on it! "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment."(Matthew 12:36)
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