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The Hidden Messages We Carry from Childhood

This post is part of the Perfectly Placed Blog Series. Next: Purpose in the Middle of the Mess – Finding God’s Plan in Your Struggles

Many of us are still living under the shadow of words spoken decades ago.
“You’re too sensitive.”
“Why can’t you be more like your brother?”
“You’ll never amount to anything.”

Maybe they were said in anger. Maybe they were meant as a joke. But words have a way of planting themselves deep in our hearts, shaping how we see ourselves and how we move through the world. Without realizing it, we carry these hidden messages into adulthood—into our relationships, our work, and even our faith.

But here’s the truth: those words don’t define you. God’s Word does.

In Perfectly Placed, I share my own journey of uncovering these invisible scripts. Mine told me I wasn’t enough, that love had to be earned, and that silence was safer than speaking up. It took years of healing, biblical truth, and God’s grace to rewrite those lies in my mind.

Why Words Matter More Than We Think

Proverbs 18:21 reminds us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

The enemy knows this. That’s why he tries to plant lies early—because a lie believed for long enough can feel like the truth. But Jesus came to replace every false label with your real identity: chosen, loved, forgiven, and called.

You can’t always control what was spoken over you, but you can decide what you believe now.

If you’ve ever struggled with breaking free from unhealthy family patterns, you might also find Why Family Cycles Keep Repeating and How to Break Them helpful—it walks you through tracing your family’s repeating pain and choosing a new legacy.

Steps to Replace Lies With God’s Truth

  1. Identify the message. Write down the hurtful phrase you’ve carried.

  2. Ask, “Is this what God says about me?” If not, find a scripture that contradicts it.

  3. Speak the truth out loud. Declare God’s Word over yourself daily.

  4. Surround yourself with life-giving voices. Let your circle echo heaven’s perspective.

For practical help with setting emotional limits while you heal, see You Don’t Have to Be the Strong One—it’s all about letting go of the weight God never asked you to carry.

A Question for You Today

💬 What words have you carried for too long?
💬 What is God saying about you instead?

You don’t have to carry someone else’s words into the next chapter of your life. God is inviting you to trade the labels of your past for the truth of who you are in Him.

📚 Order your copy of Perfectly Placed to discover how to break free from false identities and walk confidently in God’s purpose.

📥 Download your free “Five Steps to Finding Purpose in Your Family” worksheet — your guide to uncovering hidden patterns and embracing God’s truth.


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