When I was about five years old, I recall one of my cousins saying something to the effect that I wasn’t good enough. What he actually said, I’ve long forgotten. Yet, I still remember the sting of those words—they caused real emotional pain.
To help me cope, my aunt told me to repeat the old saying:
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
Maybe you’ve heard that phrase before. Like many such sayings, it holds both truth and a lie.
It’s true in the sense that my cousin’s words didn’t cause physical pain. But the emotional wound? That stayed with me for years. And as those feelings were reinforced over time, they stuck with me for decades.
Words Have Power in the Bible
- Words can hurt.
- Words can alter the direction of a person’s life.
- Words can also heal.
The Bible has much to say about the power of words. Jesus said:
“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
— Matthew 12:34 / Luke 6:45
And James warned:
“With [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”
— James 3:9–10 (ESV)
For many years, I thought James was only talking about how we speak to others. But eventually I realized something deeper: the person I cursed most often with my words was myself.
The Lies We Tell Ourselves
For much of my adult life, I believed: “I’m not good enough.”
That toxic thought led me down three different but equally harmful paths:
- Avoidance (shrinking back, staying silent, missing opportunities)
- Overachievement (constantly striving, never resting, always proving myself)
- Controlling (not trusting others to do their part)
I often apologized for harmless comments or for asking innocent questions, because deep down I didn’t believe I even had the right to speak. Or I micromanaged so I wouldn’t look bad.
Have you ever experienced something similar?
Healing Emotional Wounds Through God’s Word
Here’s a simple four-step exercise to retrain your heart and mind with God’s truth:
1. Identify the Lie
Write down one negative belief you’ve carried about yourself.
- Example: “I’m unlovable.”
2. Find God’s Truth in the Bible
Look for a scripture that contradicts that lie and speaks God’s reality.
- Example:
Romans 8:38–39 — “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers… will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
3. Personalize It in Prayer
Rewrite that scripture as a declaration of thanks.
- Example: “Thank You, Lord, that nothing in all creation can ever separate me from Your love.”
4. Repeat It Daily
Speak that truth over yourself multiple times a day. Over time, you are training your heart and mind to believe God’s Word over the lies you’ve believed.
This is how we speak life and blessing instead of cursing—even over ourselves.
Final Thought: Speak Life, Not Death
Words do hurt. But words—when they are God’s words—can also heal. By choosing to speak truth and blessing over ourselves, we grow stronger in the Spirit and align our hearts with how God truly sees us.
Call to Action
What lie have you been believing about yourself, and what scripture are you replacing it with? Share your experience in the comments below—I’d love to hear how God’s Word is transforming your thoughts and healing your heart.
If you need more guidance feel free to chat or email me.