If you’ve ever smiled in public while falling apart in private, this is for you.
If you’ve ever held back tears because you didn’t think anyone would understand, you’re not the only one. Life can hit hard; mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and sometimes it just feels too personal to put into words, let alone share with anyone .
But if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this: God is still good.
And He sees you. He hears you. And He cares more than you know.
June is National Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and while it shines a light on what many men struggle with quietly, the truth is, it’s a conversation that matters for all of us. Whether you’re a man or a woman, we’ve all had moments where we smiled on the outside but battled silently on the inside.
I saw a video the other day where a group of men were asked a simple question: “Who do you call when you’re at your lowest?” Almost every man gave the same answer: “No one.” That stuck with me. I had to pause and ask myself, who do I turn to when I feel like I’m slipping? And if the answer is no one, why is that?
Is it fear of being misunderstood? Or maybe you’re tired of feeling like a burden to everyone. Maybe you’ve told yourself, “No one would really get it anyway, or who would care?” But that’s not true.
You may be in a moment right now where you’re running on empty. You’re doing your best to show up for everyone, but inside, something’s breaking. I want you to hear me clearly: you’re not weak for feeling tired. You’re not broken because you need help. And you’re not less of a person for admitting that you’re struggling.
God cares. He hears the words you’re too afraid to say out loud. He sees every battle you're fighting in secret, and He’s not turning away from you. He’s drawing closer.
In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah was in deep pain. She longed for a child and couldn’t take the quiet anymore. She went to the temple, poured out her soul, and prayed from a place only God could understand. Her husband meant well, but he didn’t really get it. Eli the priest saw her and assumed she was drunk. But God didn’t misunderstand her. He heard her cry and gave her a son that she named Samuel, which means heard by God. Her pain turned into purpose, and her tears became part of a greater story.
Hannah didn’t wait for permission to be honest about what she was going through. She didn’t wait for someone else to validate her pain. She just took it to God. And He met her right where she was, and He will do the same for you.
You don’t have to hold it all in. You don’t have to pretend you’re doing well when it feels like your whole world is crumbling around you. You don’t have to carry the pressure of being strong for everyone else, anymore. God is inviting you to bring it all to Him. And guess what? You can trust Him.
The Bible says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Not just some of it. Not just the parts you think are acceptable. All of it.
David understood this too. Just look at the Psalms. He cried out, he questioned, he worshiped, and through it all, God never turned him away.
Even Jesus, the Son of God, knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane and said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow…” (Matthew 26:38). His friends fell asleep while He was in agony, but the Father never left Him.
You don’t have to wait until you got it all together. You don’t have to clean up your prayers or edit your emotions. Just be real with God. He’s not afraid of your truth. He’s already seen the worst and still loves you with the best.
As you learn to be honest with God, don’t forget, there are people around you who are fighting their own silent battles. They may not need someone to fix them. They just need someone who won’t judge them. Someone who will listen. Be that safe place for someone. And remember this: God is that safe place for you, always.
If you feel unseen, He sees you. If you feel unheard, He’s listening. If you feel like you’re slipping, He’s still holding on.
You are never alone. Just like God told Joshua, He promises to be with you wherever you go. So take heart, be strong and courageous. Don’t let fear or discouragement win, because the Lord your God is right there with you, every step, every moment (Joshua 1:9). Lean into that truth. Hold on to it like your life depends on it, because sometimes, it does.
Pray With Me :
Father, thank You for always being near. Thank You for listening when no one else seems to understand. Today, I bring You the parts of me I’ve kept hidden. The questions, the fear, the exhaustion. I know You’re not afraid of my truth. Heal what hurts. Restore what’s worn down. And remind me again that I’m never alone. You are my safe place.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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