85 Lies We Believe — And the Truth that Breaks Them

Written By Adam S

There are thousands of lies can believe. The most deceptive are the statements that make you initially think: “Well…isn't that kind of true?” Those are the ones worth exposing.

For example, “God hates me” is easy for most Christians to reject. But “If I stop worrying about this, I’m being irresponsible” can quietly control somebody's life for twenty years.

This list is an example to show how the enemy lies to us.

1. Identity & Worth

  • “I’m not enough.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:13

  • “My worth depends on what other people think of me.” — Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4

  • “I have to prove myself to be valuable.” — Ephesians 2:8–10; Romans 5:8

  • “My failures define who I am.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1

  • “I would be happier if I were more like someone else.” — Psalm 139:13–14; Ephesians 2:10

  • “God can use other people, but He can’t really use me.” — 1 Corinthians 1:26–29; Ephesians 2:10

  • “What I accomplish determines what I’m worth.” — Luke 12:6–7; Ephesians 1:4–5

2. Fear & Anxiety

  • “Something bad is going to happen.” — Matthew 6:34; Psalm 112:7

  • “I’m not safe unless I can anticipate every possibility.” — Psalm 4:8; Proverbs 3:24–26

  • “If I stop worrying about it, I’m being irresponsible.” — Philippians 4:6–7; 1 Peter 5:7

  • “I won’t be able to handle what happens next.” — Isaiah 41:10; 2 Corinthians 12:9

  • “My worst-case scenario is probably what will happen.” — Matthew 6:31–34; Psalm 56:3–4

  • “Fear is protecting me.” — 2 Timothy 1:7; Psalm 27:1

  • “I have to figure this out before I can have peace.” — Philippians 4:6–7; Isaiah 26:3

3. Shame & Condemnation

  • “What I’ve done is too bad for God to forgive.” — 1 John 1:9; Isaiah 1:18

  • “God may forgive me, but He’s still disappointed in me.” — Romans 8:1; Psalm 103:10–12

  • “I’ll always be the person I used to be.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:9–10

  • “I need to punish myself for what I’ve done.” — Isaiah 53:5–6; 1 Peter 2:24

  • “If people really knew me, they wouldn’t love me.” — Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9–10

  • “My past disqualifies me from being used by God.” — 1 Timothy 1:12–16; Philippians 3:13–14

  • “God is tired of me failing.” — Lamentations 3:22–23; Hebrews 4:15–16

4. Relationships & Rejection

  • “I need their approval to be okay.” — Galatians 1:10; Proverbs 29:25

  • “If someone rejects me, there must be something wrong with me.” — Psalm 27:10; 1 Peter 2:4–5

  • “I have to keep everyone happy.” — Galatians 1:10; John 12:42–43

  • “I have to change who I am to be loved.” — Psalm 139:13–14; Romans 5:8

  • “I can’t forgive them unless they apologize first.” — Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:31–32

  • “I’m better off not trusting anyone.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9–10; Galatians 6:2

  • “If I set a boundary, I’m being unloving.” — Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 10:14

  • “I need this relationship to be whole.” — Colossians 2:9–10; Psalm 73:25–26

  • “What they did to me gives me the right to stay bitter.” — Hebrews 12:14–15; Ephesians 4:31–32

5. Temptation & Sin

  • “Just this once won’t hurt anything.” — James 1:14–16; Galatians 6:7–8

  • “I deserve this.” — Luke 9:23; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

  • “I can stop whenever I want.” — John 8:34–36; Romans 6:16

  • “Nobody will ever know.” — Hebrews 4:13; Numbers 32:23

  • “This will satisfy me.” — Jeremiah 2:13; John 6:35

  • “God’s way is keeping something good from me.” — Psalm 84:11; James 1:16–17

  • “I’ve already gone this far, so it doesn’t matter anymore.” — 1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13

  • “Everyone struggles with this, so it’s not that serious.” — Romans 6:23; James 1:15

  • “I can repent later.” — Hebrews 3:13–15; 2 Corinthians 6:2

  • “I’ll be happier if I give in.” — Psalm 16:11; John 10:10

6. Control & Trust

  • “If I don’t take care of this, no one will.” — Psalm 127:1–2; 1 Peter 5:7

  • “I need to know how this is going to turn out.” — Proverbs 3:5–6; 2 Corinthians 5:7

  • “God needs my help to make this work.” — Psalm 46:10; Isaiah 55:8–9

  • “I can trust God only when I understand what He’s doing.” — Proverbs 3:5–6; Romans 11:33

  • “If I plan well enough, I can prevent anything bad from happening.” — Proverbs 16:9; James 4:13–15

  • “Waiting means nothing is happening.” — Isaiah 40:31; Psalm 27:14

  • “Surrender means giving up.” — Matthew 16:24–25; Romans 12:1–2

  • “My way is safer than God’s way.” — Proverbs 14:12; Psalm 18:30

7. Money & Provision

  • “I’ll finally feel secure when I have enough money.” — 1 Timothy 6:17; Matthew 6:19–21

  • “I can’t afford to be generous.” — 2 Corinthians 9:6–8; Proverbs 11:24–25

  • “More money will solve my problems.” — Ecclesiastes 5:10; Luke 12:15

  • “Everything I have belongs to me.” — Psalm 24:1; 1 Chronicles 29:11–14

  • “If I obey God financially, I won’t have enough.” — Matthew 6:31–33; Philippians 4:19

  • “My income determines my security.” — Hebrews 13:5–6; 1 Timothy 6:17

  • “What I own proves how successful I am.” — Luke 12:15; Mark 8:36

  • “God won’t provide what I really need.” — Matthew 6:25–33; Philippians 4:19

8. Suffering & Disappointment

  • “If God loved me, He wouldn’t let this happen.” — Romans 8:35–39; John 16:33

  • “My suffering means God has abandoned me.” — Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 34:18

  • “Nothing good can come from this.” — Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20

  • “Because God didn’t answer the way I wanted, prayer doesn’t work.” — 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; 1 John 5:14

  • “This season will never end.” — Psalm 30:5; 2 Corinthians 4:17–18

  • “God owes me an explanation.” — Job 38:1–4; Romans 11:33–36

  • “If I obey God, life should go well for me.” — John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12

  • “My pain gives me permission to disobey.” — 1 Peter 2:20–23; Hebrews 12:1–3

  • “God has forgotten me.” — Isaiah 49:15–16; Psalm 139:7–10

9. God’s Character

  • “God is disappointed in me.” — Romans 8:31–34; Zephaniah 3:17

  • “God is withholding something good from me.” — Psalm 84:11; Romans 8:32

  • “I have to earn God’s love.” — Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8–9

  • “God loves me more when I’m doing well.” — Romans 8:38–39; 1 John 4:9–10

  • “God has better things to do than care about my problems.” — Matthew 10:29–31; 1 Peter 5:7

  • “God can’t really be trusted.” — Numbers 23:19; Psalm 18:30

  • “God is waiting for me to mess up.” — Psalm 103:8–14; Micah 7:18–19

  • “God’s commands are restrictive rather than protective.” — Deuteronomy 10:12–13; 1 John 5:3

  • “God might forgive other people, but I’ve gone too far.” — 1 Timothy 1:15–16; Hebrews 7:25

  • “God doesn’t understand what I’m going through.” — Hebrews 4:15–16; Psalm 56:8

10. Purpose & the Future

  • “I’ve missed God’s plan for my life.” — Romans 8:28; Joel 2:25

  • “It’s too late for me.” — Philippians 1:6; Psalm 92:12–15

  • “My best days are behind me.” — Isaiah 43:18–19; Philippians 3:13–14

  • “I have nothing significant to offer.” — 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12:4–7

  • “I need to know my entire purpose before I can move forward.” — Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 3:5–6

  • “If I make the wrong decision, I’ll ruin God’s plan.” — Proverbs 16:9; Psalm 37:23–24

  • “God can’t redeem the years I’ve wasted.” — Joel 2:25–27; Romans 8:28

  • “What I’m doing right now doesn’t matter.” — Colossians 3:23–24; 1 Corinthians 15:58

  • “Someone else could do what God has called me to do better.” — 1 Corinthians 12:18; Ephesians 2:10

  • “I need a bigger platform to make a difference.” — Luke 16:10; Zechariah 4:10

Adam S
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