The Lie: “Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, but Words Will Never Hurt Me”

You’ve probably heard the saying: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

But let’s get real—this is a lie.

Words do hurt.

A few weeks ago, someone said something about me that wasn’t true. It was small… but not small at all. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I replayed it over and over in my mind, lying awake at night.

My first instinct?

Fight back.

Set the record straight.

Prove my point.

Give an eye for an eye.

But thank goodness I have wise people in my life—voices that reminded me of something better.

“Do not engage.”

“You don’t have to fight this battle.”

“You don’t need to defend what isn’t true.”

They were right. And it reminded me of Someone else who chose the same path.

When Jesus Faced False Accusations

Jesus knew exactly what it felt like to have words spoken about Him that weren’t true. He knew the sting of dishonesty, the twisting of motives, and the weight of accusations.

When He was put on trial, the religious leaders threw everything they could at Him—contradicting stories, false witnesses, exaggerated claims.

And He didn’t defend Himself.

“But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.” Matthew 27:14

When asked, “Aren’t you going to answer? Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”—Matthew 27:13—He still chose silence.

Not weakness.

Not passivity.

Strength. Self-control. A confidence rooted in the truth of who He was.

When Jesus was insulted, He didn’t insult back.

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to Him who judges justly.” 1 Peter 2:23

And when He taught us how to live?

He didn’t say, “Hit back harder.” He said:

“If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other also.” Matthew 5:39

Turning the other cheek isn’t pretending the hurt didn’t happen. It’s choosing a different response.

It’s saying:

I don’t need to fight every battle.

I don’t need to correct every false word spoken about me.

I don’t need to defend what God already sees.

I know who I am, and I know Whose I am.

Words Hurt—But They Don’t Define Us

The lie says words can’t hurt us.

But the truth says words have power—Power to wound, and power to heal.

Power to tear down, and power to restore.

And the most powerful words in your life are the ones God speaks over you.

Chosen.

Loved.

Held.

Known.

Protected.

Called.

These words outweigh anything spoken in ignorance, anger, or misunderstanding.

So what do we do when words wound?

We take them to the One who understands.

We breathe.

We listen to wise voices around us.

We choose silence when needed.

We choose peace over proving a point.

We choose the way of Jesus.

Because sometimes the most Christlike response isn’t the loudest one—it’s the quiet confidence that God sees, God knows, and God fights for us.