Finding Hope in Our Deepest Sadness

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Sees and Has Compassion on the Brokenhearted

In moments of deep sadness and depression, it can feel as though no one truly sees or understands the pain you carry. Yet, the story of the widow at Nain in Luke 7 reminds us that Jesus not only notices our suffering but is moved with deep, gut-wrenching compassion for us. He sees you in your loneliness, your questions, and your fears, and He draws near with a love that is personal and attentive. You are not invisible to God; He knows your story, your struggles, and your tears, and He cares for you with a compassion that is both powerful and tender. [44:34]

Luke 7:11-13 (ESV)
"11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, 'Do not weep.'"

Reflection: When you feel unseen or alone in your struggles, how might you remind yourself today that Jesus truly sees you and has compassion for you right where you are?

Day 2: You Are Not Alone in Your Struggle

It is easy to believe the lie that you are the only one wrestling with depression or overwhelming sadness, but Scripture and the stories of faithful saints remind us otherwise. From David to Elijah, Moses to Paul, and even Jesus in His moments of sorrow, the Bible is filled with examples of those who faced deep emotional pain. The enemy wants to isolate you, but the truth is that you are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have walked this path before, and God’s people are called to walk with you now. [46:43]

Psalm 42:3 (ESV)
"My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, 'Where is your God?'"

Reflection: Who is someone you can reach out to this week to honestly share your struggles, breaking the power of isolation and inviting support?

Day 3: Jesus Steps Into Our Mess and Brings Hope

Jesus does not shy away from the messiness of our pain or the stigma of our struggles. He crosses every barrier—social, religious, or emotional—to draw near, touch what is unclean, and bring life where there is death. His presence brings hope, even when circumstances seem hopeless, and His willingness to enter our brokenness is a powerful reminder that no situation is too far gone for His love to reach. [52:16]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Reflection: What is one area of your life that feels too messy or hopeless for God? How can you invite Jesus to step into that place with you today?

Day 4: God’s Faithfulness and New Mercies Each Morning

Even in the midst of ongoing struggle, God’s steadfast love and faithfulness never run out. Like Jeremiah in Lamentations, we can call to mind the truth that God’s mercies are new every morning, and that our hope is not in immediate healing but in the unchanging character of our Lord. No matter how dark the night, His faithfulness is our anchor, and His love is our portion. [58:49]

Lamentations 3:21-24 (ESV)
"21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'"

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally notice and thank God for His new mercies in your life this morning?

Day 5: Sharing Our Struggles Brings Healing and Hope

There is power and healing in bringing our struggles into the light and sharing them with others. When we talk openly about our pain, we break the chains of shame and isolation, and God can use our stories to encourage and help others who are walking through similar valleys. Community is God’s gift for our journey, and your vulnerability may be the very thing that brings hope to someone else. [57:13]

James 5:16 (ESV)
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Who is one trusted person you can talk to this week about your struggles, and how might sharing your story help both you and them take a step toward healing?

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus is on the reality of mental health struggles, especially depression, and how God meets us in our deepest sadness. So many of us, when asked how we’re doing, simply say, “I’m fine,” even when our lives are anything but. The truth is, mental health challenges are widespread—statistically, a significant portion of us are struggling, whether it’s spiritual, situational, or clinical depression. These struggles are not a sign of weak faith, nor are they a punishment from God. Even the greatest saints—David, Elijah, Moses, Paul, and even Jesus in his moments of sorrow—walked through deep valleys of sadness and despair.

Looking at Luke 7, we see Jesus encounter a widow who has just lost her only son. Her grief is not just emotional but existential—her very survival is at stake. Life can knock the wind out of us, leaving us feeling isolated and hopeless. Yet, in her darkest moment, Jesus sees her. He notices her pain, has deep compassion, and steps into her mess, crossing every social and religious barrier to bring life and hope. This is the heart of God: He sees, He cares, and He draws near to the brokenhearted.

It’s important to recognize the enemy’s tactic of isolation—making us believe we’re alone in our struggles. But the truth is, we are not alone. God sees us, and the church is called to be a place where we can share our burdens without shame. There is power in bringing our struggles into the light, in sharing with others, and in allowing God to use our pain for the good of others. Healing may not always come in the way or timing we desire, but our hope is not in immediate deliverance—it is in the steadfast love and faithfulness of God, whose mercies are new every morning. We look forward to the day when He will wipe every tear from our eyes, but until then, we walk together, bearing one another’s burdens, and trusting in His compassion and nearness.

Key Takeaways

1. You Are Not Alone in Your Struggle Isolation is one of the enemy’s most effective tactics, convincing us that our pain is unique and that no one else could possibly understand. But Scripture and the stories of countless saints remind us that deep sadness and depression are common to the human experience. God’s people have always walked through valleys, and you are surrounded by others who share your struggle—even if it doesn’t always look like it on the surface. [42:28]
2. God Sees You and Has Deep Compassion In the story of the widow at Nain, Jesus doesn’t just see the crowd—He notices her, in all her pain and vulnerability. God’s compassion is not distant or theoretical; it is gut-wrenching, personal, and active. He is not indifferent to your suffering, but is moved by it, and He draws near to you in your darkest moments. [44:34]
3. Faith Does Not Immunize Us from Mental Health Struggles It is a myth that strong faith, prayer, or spiritual discipline will automatically shield us from depression or mental health issues. Even the most faithful—David, Moses, Paul, and others—wrestled with despair and pleaded with God for relief. Our struggles are not a sign of spiritual failure, but a part of living in a broken world, and God’s grace is sufficient even in our weakness. [33:54]
4. Jesus Steps Into Our Mess, Breaking Barriers Jesus is willing to cross every social, religious, and personal barrier to meet us in our pain. He touches what others would avoid, bringing life and hope where there was only death and despair. His holiness is not threatened by our brokenness; instead, His presence brings cleansing, healing, and restoration. [52:16]
5. Your Story and Struggle Can Be a Source of Healing for Others God often uses our deepest wounds and hardest seasons to minister to others. When we share our struggles openly, we break the power of isolation and shame, and we create space for healing—not just for ourselves, but for those around us. The church is called to be a community where burdens are shared, and where God’s faithfulness is proclaimed, even in the midst of ongoing struggle. [57:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Announcements and Small Groups
[04:30] - Introduction to the “It’s Fine, But Not Really” Series
[07:10] - The Prevalence of Mental Health Struggles
[10:30] - Types of Depression: Spiritual, Situational, Clinical
[15:00] - Myths About Faith and Mental Health
[19:00] - Personal Stories of Depression
[21:30] - Prayer for Those Struggling
[22:30] - Luke 7: Jesus Encounters the Widow
[25:00] - Life Can Knock the Wind Out of You
[28:00] - The Pain of Isolation and the Enemy’s Tactics
[31:00] - Jesus Sees and Has Compassion
[34:00] - Biblical Examples of Depression
[38:00] - Jesus Steps Into Our Mess
[41:00] - Sharing Our Struggles and Finding Hope
[44:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation for Support

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 7:11-17 (ESV) — 11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.
12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.
13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”
15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”
17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

Psalm 34:18 (ESV) — The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Lamentations 3:21-24 (ESV) — 21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

Observation Questions

In the story from Luke 7, what details do we learn about the widow’s situation and why was her grief especially deep?
According to the sermon, what does it mean that “Jesus saw her” in verse 13? How is this different from just seeing a crowd?
What actions did Jesus take that broke social or religious barriers in this story?
What does Psalm 34:18 say about God’s relationship to those who are brokenhearted or crushed in spirit?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the sermon emphasized that even great heroes of faith like David, Moses, Elijah, Paul, and even Jesus experienced deep sadness or despair? What does this tell us about the nature of faith and mental health?
The sermon mentioned that isolation is one of the enemy’s main tactics when we are struggling. Why is isolation so dangerous during times of depression or sadness?
Jesus’ compassion for the widow was described as “gut-wrenching” and deeply personal. What does this teach us about how God responds to our pain?
Lamentations 3:21-24 talks about hope in the midst of suffering. How does remembering God’s faithfulness and new mercies help someone who is struggling?

Application Questions

The sermon said that many of us say “I’m fine” when we’re really not. When was the last time you hid your true feelings behind “I’m fine”? What kept you from being honest?
Have you ever felt isolated in your struggles, believing you were the only one going through something hard? What helped you break out of that isolation, or what could help you now?
Jesus noticed the widow’s pain and moved toward her with compassion. Is there someone in your life right now who might need you to notice their pain and show compassion? What’s one thing you could do for them this week?
The sermon challenged the myth that strong faith or spiritual discipline will keep us from mental health struggles. Have you ever felt shame or guilt for struggling emotionally or mentally as a Christian? How can you remind yourself of the truth that you are not alone and not a failure?
Jesus stepped into the widow’s mess, even when it meant breaking social or religious rules. Are there “barriers” that keep you from reaching out for help or from helping others? What would it look like to cross those barriers?
The pastor encouraged us to share our stories and struggles so others can find hope and healing. Is there a part of your story you’ve been afraid to share? What would it take to bring it into the light with someone you trust?
Lamentations 3 says God’s mercies are new every morning. What is one practical way you can remind yourself of God’s faithfulness and new mercies this week, especially if you’re feeling down?

Sermon Clips

I'm strictly coming at this from a biblical worldview, presenting facts that are out there about these issues, and then we're going to look later at how God meets us as we deal with these issues, okay? [00:29:28] (15 seconds) #FaithMeetsStruggle

Myth number one, if you have enough faith, you will not struggle with mental health. False, just totally false. I mean, we'll look later at some of the great saints who have had tremendous amount of faith and still had mental health. struggle. So just saying, well, if you have enough faith, that's not going to help anybody. [00:33:38] (21 seconds) #FaithDoesNotEraseStruggle

Sometimes we have, we do things maybe early in life that we regret, whether you steal or embezzle money or have an affair or whatever the case may be. And then we, we move on and then we get in our thirties, forties, fifties, and we struggle with mental health. And there's the temptation to think, well, because of what I did when I was young, God is punishing me now with this mental health disorder. That is absolutely not true. Our God is not punitive in any way. [00:34:42] (32 seconds) #GodIsNotPunitive

Many of you have been there. Maybe it wasn't a death. Maybe it was a divorce. Maybe it was a financial crisis. Maybe it was a kid who you're just really disappointed in. Maybe you don't have connection that you really want or desire. There's all kinds of things that can happen that can really punch us in the gut and knock us down. And the soul hurts. Here's what we come back to what I said earlier. Remember, in these moments, you are not alone. You are not alone. [00:41:16] (34 seconds) #YouAreNotAloneStill

Sometimes when we are down and we are depressed, those are the thoughts that run through our minds. And so we've got to be very careful. We've got to identify what this is, right? This is isolation. And this is the trick that the devil uses. And he wants to pin on you to keep you down. He wants you to be totally isolated. Feel like when we get in these depressed moods or go through that season, whatever it is, whatever circumstances around you, we think I am the only one. I'm the only one who struggles with this. I'm the only one who knows. Nobody else knows how I'm feeling. And the devil will capitalize on that and say, yeah, you're right. You are the only one. one. You fool. You idiot. How in the world could you struggle like this? Look at all this. What kind of terrible person are you? And on and on and down the rabbit hole it can go. [00:42:44] (61 seconds) #IsolationIsTheEnemy

So not only are we now isolating, we're then ruminating. We're regurgitating the same thoughts over and over again, and we're not letting the truth get inside of us. This is what the devil wants to do. So we've got to stop that immediately in its tracks and say, no, no, we're going to preach the truth. And the truth is you are not alone. [00:43:44] (26 seconds) #PreachTheTruth

You are not alone. You think about Paul and the thorn in the side that he had undoubtedly incredible pain we don't know exactly what that was but he prays again this dispels the myth that if you just have enough faith then you'll be healed of this he prays three different times lord take this from me on three separate occasions and each time the lord said no my grace is sufficient for you my power is made perfect in your weakness. [00:49:22] (29 seconds) #GraceInWeakness

And others knowing that you are struggling to puts away that isolation. And there's something about sharing with one another that brings healing. You may not be completely healed, but you might take a step forward in the right direction. [00:57:19] (15 seconds) #HopeInSteadfastLove

If you don't know about mourning and weeping, there's a whole book of the Bible devoted to it. It's called Lamentations written by the weeping prophet Jeremiah. And after 20 verses in chapter three of his weeping and mourning, he comes to this in verse 21. But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says to my soul. Therefore, I will hope in him. [00:58:22] (39 seconds) #EternalHopeInChrist

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