It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

People are not allowed to be sad.
They can be angry.
They can be tired.
They can grunt, shrug, or answer every emotional question with “I’m good.” Or “I’m fine”
But sad? Broken? Depressed? Anxious?
Nah. That’s too… human.

And yet—statistics say otherwise.

The Reality We Don’t Talk About Enough

• 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness each year.

• Men die by suicide nearly 4x more often than women.

• It is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10–34 in the U.S.

• And in the church? We often don’t talk about it. Or worse, we minimize it.

But the Bible does talk about it. Let’s see what the Bible has to say

When God’s People Break

• David wrote in Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

• Job sat in the ashes, scraping his sores, surrounded by silence and sorrow.

• Elijah ran into the wilderness, collapsed, and said, “I’ve had enough, Lord. Take my life.” (1 Kings 19:4)

• Even Jesus said in Matthew 26:38, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”

Mental anguish is not a new thing. It is woven into the Word of God. And you know what all these people had in common?

God met them there.

Cue the Song: Matthew West – “Truth Be Told”

Let this song play here. Beforehand, say:

"This song cuts through the mask we all wear. We say 'we're fine,' 'we're okay,' and 'it's all good.' But truth be told… we're not. So I want you to just listen. Close your eyes if you want. Let the words sink in."

🎵 “Lie number one, you're supposed to have it all together...”

🎵 “I say I'm fine, yeah I'm fine, oh I'm fine, hey I'm fine… but I'm not. I'm broken.”

After the song, give the room a moment of silence. Then softly continue:

Truth Be Told...

We’ve gotten so good at pretending.

And sometimes we even hide from each other in the Church.

Sometimes we hide from ourselves and minimize the big issues.

We smile. We hug. We joke about the coffee. We talk football.
But we don’t say: “I’m really struggling.”
We don’t say: “I feel like I’m falling apart.”
We don’t say: “I can’t sleep. I can’t breathe. I’m afraid.”

But truth be told… you are not alone.

There are people here—right now—who are carrying deep pain, grief, anxiety, or trauma… and no one knows.
But God knows. And He’s not angry with you. He’s not disappointed in you.

He is your strength in it.

God Is Not Mad at You — He’s Reaching for You

• Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

• 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

• Isaiah 61:1 says Jesus came to “bind up the brokenhearted… to comfort all who mourn.”

Your struggle is not a sign of failure.
It’s an invitation to healing.
It’s not shameful—it’s sacred. It’s where Jesus does His best work.

Bringing It Home

We all think we know each other well here. And we do, to a degree.
We know each other's prayer requests, favorite seats in Sunday school, coffee orders.
We’ve shared potlucks and praise reports, hospital visits and holiday plans.
But if we’re honest…
There are things no one knows.
Silent struggles. Invisible wounds. Shame that keeps its voice quiet.

And I want to say something that might just be for you:

There is nothing—absolutely nothing—too big for God.

You may think your depression is too dark.
Your anxiety is too crippling.
Your grief is too heavy.
Your past is too painful.
Your thoughts are too scary.
Your heart is too broken.

But let me tell you this:
The same God who parted the Red Sea, who fed 5,000 with scraps, who walked on water, who raised the dead—
That same God sees you…
And He isn’t intimidated by your storm.

He is not ashamed of you.
He is not angry at you.
He is not rolling His eyes or crossing His arms.
He is opening His arms. Wide.

Because He is love (1 John 4:8).
Not just loving—He is love.

And what does love do?

Love doesn’t walk away.
Love doesn’t flinch at the mess.
Love doesn’t ask you to fix it all before coming close.
Love draws near. Love listens. Love heals. Love stays

This is Your Invitation

And that love isn’t abstract—it’s very personal.

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3

So here’s the truth, and it might just wreck your heart in the best way:

God is not asking you to be perfect.
He’s asking you to come home.

Come home to hope.
Come home to healing.
Come home to a Father who doesn’t hand out guilt, but rather grace.

And while He’s the ultimate healer, He’s also given us tools for the journey:

• Doctors and therapists who help untangle our thoughts.

• Friends and family who hold space for us.

• The Church—not as a place of performance, but a place of presence.

• Prayer, as a divine connection to a Savior who gets it.

These aren’t signs of failure. They’re signs that you’re growing.
You’re being healed, refined, and made new.

Your scars? They’re not disqualifiers.
They’re testimonies.

Tears, Truth, and Turning Points

So maybe today is not just another lesson.
Maybe it’s a turning point.
A sacred moment where you stop pretending and start healing.

Let this be the day where you trade the mask for mercy.
The pressure for peace.
The silence for a Savior.

Don’t carry what you were never meant to carry alone.
God is here. We are here.
And healing is possible.

Final Moment (Tears & Truth)

“So today, I want to ask you to be brave.
Not the kind of brave that hides the pain…
But the kind that hands it to Jesus.

If you're struggling—really struggling
You are not alone. You are not broken beyond repair. You are not a burden.

You are seen by God.
And you are deeply loved by God.

And maybe—just maybe—this is the day everything begins to change.”

Prayer:

God,
We’ve worn the mask long enough.
We are tired of pretending.
Come into the places we’ve hidden for years.
Shine Your light into the darkness.
Heal what we thought could never be healed.
Replace our shame with Your mercy.
Replace our silence with Your voice.
And help us to be the kind of church where broken people are safe to be real.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.