It’s Okay To Not Be Okay

By Kathi Pelton

There are seasons in life— even during the holidays— when you may be going through something hard. Those hard things look different for everyone one but nonetheless— they are hard.

As believers we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be in a positive light and always overcoming. But overcoming is a process not just a declaration or statement of faith. Overcoming may involve those things but when I look at the lives of those “heroes of faith”, I see a process.

At times those processes involved them not being “okay.”

David wrote, “Why are you so downcast oh my soul, put your hope in God.” But, he was downcast and his soul was processing his faith amid pain and fears.

There are times in life that all you have to bring before your King is your weakness. Guess what? He sees that as a worthy offering because you’re still bringing it before him.

If weakness and dependency is all that you have to lay at his feet then know that it is a highly valued offering.

Coming to him when your soul is “not okay” is a costly offering. Your tears are valued, your trust when you are downcast is valued and your weakness can become the alabaster jar of fragrant perfume poured over his feet.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:9

His grace is sufficient for you and it is his power that is made PERFECT in times of weakness.

The pressure to be okay is not from God. It’s from a false message in your own head that says hope equals happiness or joy means that you are not downcast. Joy and hope can be present in weakness and even sadness.

Let the process of being an overcomer take place step by step— day by day.

Your soul may struggle against the contradiction of what you see and your faith in the unseen; but in the end— faith wins and you will overcome. You will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the testimony that is being produced in the midst of your weakness.

So, if your soul is not okay— it’s okay because his power is still perfect and his grace is still sufficient.

His grace and power are your portion and your strength. You will be okay again— you will not only be okay but you will overcome and thrive. Don’t force yourself to be anything that your mind is trying to force you to be or even people around you need you to be— dwell in the sufficiency of grace that surrounds you.

His strength is perfect when your soul is struggling. You are held in his everlasting arms.