Summary

At Full Word, everyone is welcome to bring their pains, past, and pressures to the altar, encountering Jesus and moving forward into God’s purpose and promise. We celebrate the ways God is working in our church, from transformative youth retreats like Winterfest to our annual Legacy Night, where we honor those who paved the way for us. Our heart is to be a place where people can worship freely, find community, and receive help in their time of need—whether that’s through prayer, practical support, or simply being heard.

Today, the focus is on a topic often left in the shadows: depression. Using the story of Batman as a metaphor, we see how a single traumatic moment can define a life, leading to isolation and a cycle of pain. Like Bruce Wayne, many people never truly move on from their “alleyway” moments—those times when life stands still because of tragedy or loss. But unlike Batman, we are not meant to live in isolation or let our pain become our identity. The Bible is full of faithful people—David, Elijah, Job, Hannah, Naomi, Jeremiah, Peter—who struggled with deep sorrow and despair. Depression is not a sign of weak faith; it is a real battle that can be biological, circumstantial, or spiritual.

The cycle of depression often begins with a thought, which becomes a feeling, then words, and finally actions. The enemy, like the Joker in Batman’s story, seeks to coil around us with pressure and taunting, hoping we will break. But Scripture calls us to take every thought captive and to focus on what is true, honorable, and praiseworthy. Medicine, counseling, and community are all gifts from God—miracles in their own right—and there is no shame in seeking help. The church must be a hospital for the hurting, a place where struggles can be shared without fear or shame.

If you are in the alley, weighed down by depression, know that the alleyway is real—but so is God. Don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings. Call on the Lord, who is gracious, righteous, and full of compassion. He hears your cry, lifts you up, and brings you out of the shadows. You are not alone, and there is hope for healing and freedom.

Key Takeaways

- The “alleyway moment” is real, but it does not have to define your life. Traumatic events or seasons of pain can freeze us in time, but God invites us to move forward, not by denying the reality of our pain, but by refusing to give it the throne of our minds. God’s presence is greater than any moment of darkness, and He is already on the throne, waiting for us to turn to Him. [01:05:42]

- Depression is a complex battle that can be biological, circumstantial, or spiritual, and it does not discriminate. Even the most faithful people in Scripture—David, Elijah, Job—experienced deep anguish and despair. The church must be a place where these struggles are not hidden but brought into the light, where people can find support, prayer, and understanding without shame. [50:52]

- The cycle of depression begins with thoughts, which become feelings, then words, and finally actions. The enemy’s strategy is to introduce destructive thoughts, hoping they will take root and lead us into despair. True healing begins by addressing the root—the thought—taking it captive to Christ, and refusing to let the enemy’s voice have authority in our lives. [52:04]

- Medicine and counseling are gifts from God, not signs of weak faith. Just as God gave Noah instructions to build the ark and Moses the law, He gives wisdom to doctors and counselors to help us in our struggles. Taking medicine or seeking therapy is not a lack of faith but an embrace of God’s provision for healing and restoration. [01:07:50]

- Don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings. Seasons of depression can feel endless, but they are not the end of your story. When you cannot see the good, allow others to speak hope into your life, and remember that calling on the Lord brings His presence and help. There has never been a moment when God’s child called out to Him and He did not come running. [01:12:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:41] - Full Word’s Open Invitation
[05:47] - Announcements: Winterfest & Legacy Night
[32:26] - Worship Team’s Resilience
[40:39] - Introducing the Topic: Depression
[50:52] - Biblical Examples of Depression
[52:04] - The Cycle: Thoughts, Feelings, Words, Actions
[56:06] - The Power of Words and Self-Talk
[59:02] - The Joker, Pressure, and Spiritual Attack
[01:05:42] - The Reality of the Alleyway Moment
[01:07:50] - Medicine as a Miracle
[01:09:02] - The Importance of Talking to Someone
[01:12:02] - Don’t Make Permanent Decisions on Temporary Feelings
[01:15:33] - Psalm 116: God Hears and Delivers
[01:18:00] - Altar Call: Stepping Out of the Alleyway

Study Guide

Full Word Church Small Group Bible Study Guide
*“Out of the Alleyway: Depression, Faith, and Hope”*

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### Bible Reading

Psalm 42:3-6 (ESV)
> My tears have been my food day and night,
> while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
> These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:
> how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God
> with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.
> Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?
> Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
> My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV)
> For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
> For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
> We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Psalm 116:1-9 (ESV)
> I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.
> Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
> The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
> I suffered distress and anguish.
> Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”
> Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.
> The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.
> Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
> For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;
> I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

---

### Observation Questions

1. In Psalm 42, what emotions does David express, and how does he describe his relationship with God during his time of sorrow?
2. According to the sermon, what is meant by an “alleyway moment,” and how can it affect a person’s life? [[01:05:42]]
3. In 2 Corinthians 10, what does Paul say believers should do with their thoughts?
4. What examples from the Bible did the pastor give of faithful people who struggled with depression or deep sorrow? [[50:52]]

---

### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think David, even as a leader and worshipper, felt comfortable expressing his pain and questions to God in Psalm 42? What does this show us about faith and honesty with God?
2. The sermon says, “Depression is not a sign of weak faith; it is a real battle that can be biological, circumstantial, or spiritual.” How does this perspective challenge or affirm what you’ve heard in church before? [[40:39]]
3. What does it mean to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” in the context of battling depression or negative thinking? [[59:02]]
4. The pastor said, “Don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings.” Why is this warning important for someone going through a season of depression? [[01:12:02]]

---

### Application Questions

1. The sermon described the “cycle of depression” as starting with a thought, then becoming a feeling, then words, and finally actions. Can you identify a time in your life when a negative thought started this cycle? What helped you interrupt it, or what could have helped? [[52:04]]
2. The pastor emphasized that medicine and counseling are gifts from God, not signs of weak faith. If you or someone you know has struggled with the idea of seeking help, what practical steps could you take to embrace this truth? [[01:07:50]]
3. The church is called to be a “hospital for the hurting.” What are some specific ways our small group or church can be a safe place for people to share their struggles without fear or shame? [[01:09:02]]
4. The sermon encouraged us to “think on the good things” and, if we can’t see them, to let others speak hope into our lives. Who is someone you can reach out to this week to either encourage or ask for encouragement? [[01:09:02]]
5. The pastor said, “If you are in the alley, weighed down by depression, know that the alleyway is real—but so is God.” What does it look like for you to invite God into your “alleyway moment” right now? [[01:05:42]]
6. When you feel overwhelmed by negative thoughts, what is one practical way you can “take every thought captive” this week? (For example: memorizing a verse, talking to a friend, journaling, etc.) [[59:02]]
7. The sermon mentioned that sometimes we need others to “speak hope” when we can’t see it ourselves. Is there someone in your life who needs you to be that voice of hope for them right now? How can you reach out to them this week? [[01:09:02]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to pray for one another, especially for those who may be in a difficult season. Pray for courage to seek help, for God’s presence in the “alleyway,” and for the church to be a place of healing and hope.

Devotional

Day 1: God Welcomes Our Struggles and Invites Us to Release Them
No matter what pains, pressures, or past experiences we bring, God invites us to come as we are, to lay down our burdens, and to move forward into His purpose and promise. The church is meant to be a place where we can honestly share our struggles, including depression and mental health battles, without shame or fear. God’s presence is not reserved for the perfect or the untroubled; He meets us in our brokenness and offers us hope, healing, and a new beginning. You are not alone, and you are not disqualified from God’s love or His plans because of what you carry. [02:41]

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Reflection: What is one burden or struggle you’ve been carrying in silence? Can you take a step today to bring it honestly before God, trusting that He welcomes you as you are?


Day 2: Depression Is Real—Even for the Faithful
Depression is not simply sadness; it is a deep, persistent struggle that can affect anyone, even those who love and serve God faithfully. The Bible is full of examples—David, Elijah, Job, Hannah, Naomi, Jeremiah, Peter—who all experienced anguish, despair, and even hopelessness. These stories remind us that depression is not a sign of weak faith or failure, but a real battle that has been faced by God’s people throughout history. God does not turn away from those in the pit; He hears their cries and draws near to the brokenhearted. [50:52]

Psalm 42:3-6 (ESV)
“My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, ‘Where is your God?’ These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.”

Reflection: Which biblical figure’s struggle with depression or despair resonates with you most, and how does their story encourage you to be honest with God about your own pain?


Day 3: The Cycle of Thoughts, Feelings, Words, and Actions
Every battle with depression or anxiety often begins with a single thought. If left unchecked, these thoughts become feelings, which then shape our words and ultimately our actions. The enemy’s strategy is to introduce destructive thoughts—like the snake in the garden—hoping we will let them take root. But God gives us the power to take every thought captive and to speak life over ourselves and others. The words we speak matter, and the cycle can be broken by addressing the root, not just the symptoms. [54:46]

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV)
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

Reflection: What is one recurring negative thought you struggle with? How can you intentionally take it captive today and replace it with God’s truth?


Day 4: Medicine, Community, and Miracles—God Works Through Many Means
God’s healing can come in many forms: through prayer, through medicine, and through the support of others. Taking prescribed medicine for mental health is not a lack of faith; it is a gift and a miracle that God can use for your healing. Likewise, God calls us to reach out, to talk to someone trustworthy, and to allow others to help bear our burdens. We are not meant to fight these battles alone, and sometimes the miracle is found in the courage to ask for help and to let others speak life and hope into our darkness. [01:07:50]

Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Reflection: Who is one person you can reach out to this week—either to share your struggle or to help carry theirs? What step can you take to invite community into your healing journey?


Day 5: Call on the Lord—He Hears and Delivers
When the weight of depression, anxiety, or sorrow feels overwhelming, God invites us to call on Him. Even when we cannot see a way out of the alleyway or the darkness, God promises to hear our cry, to be gracious and compassionate, and to deliver us. The breakthrough may not come instantly, and you may still need medicine or counseling, but God will never ignore the cry of His child. He brings rest to the weary soul and light to the darkest places. [01:15:33]

Psalm 116:1-9 (ESV)
“I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord: ‘O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!’ Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.”

Reflection: When you feel overwhelmed or hopeless, what would it look like for you to call on the Lord in that moment? Can you pray “Lord, save me” today and trust that He hears you?

Quotes

Depression is different than sadness. We're not talking about sadness today. That's a different thing. Sadness comes and goes. It fades with circumstance. But depression is when your body is reacting as if something is sad or heartbreaking even if it's not sad or a somber situation. This is how you can have everything around you going right but everything within you feels like it's going terribly. [00:42:56] (31 seconds)  #DepressionIsDifferent Edit Clip

Your thoughts become your feelings, transform into your words. And now you're speaking things over yourself, over your circumstance like David did. Like Job did. Like Jeremiah did. Jeremiah literally said I regret the day I was born. You start speaking things over your own life. The power of life and death, it's in the tongue, right? So literally some of us in this room are murderers because we've spoken so much death over somebody else or ourselves because the power of life and death lie in the tongue. [00:54:46] (57 seconds)  #PowerOfWordsLifeOrDeath Edit Clip

The alleyway moment was real. It was real. That moment when the second hand stopped moving, it was real. That circumstance, whatever it was, tragedy, something someone did, something to you, whatever it was, that was real. The alleyway is real but so is God. And a lot of times we give this alleyway the throne room of our mind when God is literally saying, you know what, I'm already on the throne. If you could just start, stop giving that more glory than you give me. [01:05:56] (52 seconds)  #GodOverAlleyway Edit Clip

If you've ever felt like you couldn't talk about it in this church, I'm sorry. That should have never been a thing in this church or in any church. My prayer is that you haven't felt that way in this church. We are a hospital for the city. We come together to glorify what God is doing in your life and that includes helping you with your struggle. [01:08:04] (37 seconds)  #ChurchIsHealingSpace Edit Clip

Don't make a permanent decision based on temporary feelings. I know it seems like you're not getting out of that alley but I promise you that one day you will come out of that alley. Job didn't feel like he was getting out, David didn't feel like he was getting out of that cave. Some seasons are short, some seasons are long, but if you make a permanent decision based off of a temporary feeling, you're robbing yourself of the breakthrough. [01:13:09] (41 seconds)  #TemporaryFeelingsNoPermanentDecisions Edit Clip

``When that snake of depression introduces thoughts and starts to wrap around you, when anguish overcomes you, when sorrow and stress overtakes you, when anxiety bears down on you, call on the name of the Lord. You can't find your way out of the alley or you don't have the strength to pull yourself out any further or any more, call on the name of the Lord. Now listen, he may not change everything, you may still have to take medicine, you may still need to go talk to somebody, but there's never been a moment where God's child has called out for him that he did not come running. [01:14:47] (45 seconds)  #CallOnTheLordInDarkness Edit Clip