“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
If you’ve ever heard that saying, you might have believed it—just like I did when I was a child. But life has a way of showing us the truth. Words hurt. Sometimes, they hurt more than any physical wound ever could. Words can cut deep, leaving scars we carry for years.
I know this because I’ve lived it.
Growing up, I was picked on a lot because of my dark complexion. People called me cruel names, each one more hurtful than the last. At just ten years old, I couldn’t understand why. All I knew was that those words wounded me in ways I couldn’t explain. They made me question my worth, my identity, and my place in the world.
One day, a classmate laughed and said, “You’ll never be anything but a shadow.” That moment stayed with me. It wasn’t just the words but the certainty with which they were spoken. It felt like a verdict, as if my future had been decided.
I began to tell myself, Maybe they’re right. Maybe there’s something wrong with me. Those words planted seeds of doubt, and I unknowingly watered them with fear and insecurity. I didn’t talk to anyone about it. Instead, I fought back with my fists and silent battles in my mind.
But here’s the truth: the real fight wasn’t with those kids who hurt me. The real fight was inside me. It was a battle for my heart, my identity, and my future.
Looking back, I see now how powerful words are. The words spoken to me as a child tried to define me. And for a while, they succeeded.
But here’s what I’ve learned: Words don’t just come from others. Some of the most powerful words we hear are the ones we speak to ourselves. The words we say about who we are, what we’re worth, and what we’re capable of—they shape us. They have the power to imprison us or set us free.
Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Every word we speak is a seed. It’s either a seed of life or destruction. And eventually, we’ll eat the fruit of what we plant. When I read that verse, it struck me: I had been eating the bitter fruit of my own negative words for years.
For a long time, I let negativity win. The words spoken over me by others—and by myself—kept me locked in a cycle of self-doubt.
But then, something changed.
It wasn’t immediate, and it wasn’t easy. But I realized I had a choice. I couldn’t control the words others said about me, but I could control the words I spoke over myself. I could uproot the seeds of doubt and plant something better.
So, I started speaking life over myself. I began to say things like, You are worthy. You are loved. You are chosen by God. At first, it felt strange—like I was lying to myself. But over time, those words began to take root.
The more I spoke life, the more I believed it. And as I believed it, my world began to change. God started to use me in ways I never thought possible. What had once been a source of pain became a testimony of His power to heal and transform.
Here’s what I want you to know: the same power that transformed my life is available to you. God created each of us with purpose, love, and intention. He gave us the ability to speak life, not just over ourselves but over the people and situations around us.
When we align our words with His truth, amazing things happen. We stop believing the lies the world tells us, and we start living in the fullness of who God made us to be.
But it starts with a choice.
You have to choose to speak life. You have to choose to see yourself as God sees you: fearfully and wonderfully made, full of potential, and capable of greatness.
When I look back on my journey, I see how much words shaped my life. The negative words tried to define me, but they didn’t have the final say. God did.
And He says the same about you.
You are not the names others have called you. You are not the mistakes you’ve made. You are not the lies you’ve believed. You are a child of God, chosen for a purpose, and equipped with the power to change your life—and the lives of those around you—through your words.
So today, I leave you with this question: What kind of seeds are you planting with your words?
The choice is yours. Speak life, and watch God transform your world.
