You Don’t Have to Be Strong: Why God Meets You When You’re Falling Apart - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - November 18
iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women
Audio By Carbonatix
By Amber Ginter, Crosswalk.com
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18, NIV).
I was nearing the end of my fifth year of teaching, but I could barely hold it together. For the last three years, I'd spent day after day at work followed by more work in a Master 's-level program. From sunrise to sunset, I'd teach, write, edit, and write some more.
In the mirror, I was becoming a hollow shell of my former self. My eyes were fading, and I was a rope barely holding on. Most days, I was exhausted, and today, I was deteriorating. As I attended another ruthless Critique Call, I crumbled. That day, the feedback was too much.
As my weight hit the floor, my knees bent into a feeble position as I sobbed. I felt so heavy. So heavy that I didn't know how I would go on. I was almost done teaching, but I was on the verge of breaking. Doubts filled my mind:
Could I really leave my job?
Could I truly make it as an author?
Was I good enough?
That day, I realized that many of us feel the need to "be strong" or "keep it together" all the time. We feel like we can't fall apart, not for a moment, and not even when we're overwhelmed. We somehow convince ourselves that Jesus can't see our mess. He shouldn't see our mess. It's far too embarrassing, right?
But friends, Jesus' meeting us exactly where we are is what's been promised to us—not where we pretend to be.
In Psalm 34:18, we read that our Heavenly Father is close to those who are broken and weary. Those who are tired and ready to give up. He's closest not when we're strong, but when we are shattered. Why? Because that's when we learn to rely and depend on Him all the more.
Culture tells us to "just push through," but if we listen for the stillness, the spiritual truth is that God is with us, even in this moment. You don't have to or need to push through. You need to come as you are, burdened, heavy, and weary.
In the midst of our messy middle, we can be reminded that Jesus was also there for those in the Gospel. Time and time again, Jesus met people in exhaustion, fear, sickness, and grief. Because Jesus is not disgusted or run off by your humanity, he draws nearer to it because He came for those in need. He came to care for the sick and the needy. Not those who don't know their need for Him.
If you're feeling like you have to hold it all together today, let me give you three gentle reminders.
1. It's okay to cry. Your tears are not failures, but prayers lifted to God. Remember, He sees and collects every single one because He cares about you.
2. You can be real. I know it's tempting to say you're fine, but don't. Remember, honesty is an act of worship. God desires the real you. Will you show it to Him?
3. Surrender, Don't Control. At the end of the day, true strength is found not in being strong, but in being weak. We find strength in surrender, not control, because it realigns our trust in Christ, not ourselves. Practical ways to surrender include using a breath prayer, journaling, talking to a friend or counselor, taking a rest, and asking for help.
What's one area of your life you've been trying to control or hold together on your own? How might God be asking you to release it? Pray through these questions today and ask the Lord to speak to your heart.
Dear Jesus, I'm feeling so heavy and broken. When I'm feeling this way, please remind me that you see me and are near. You're close to the brokenhearted and care about what I'm feeling. In the middle of what hurts and what I can't hold together, please be my strength. Remind me that when I'm weak, I'm strong, and I can be real today. I don't need to hold it all together, and you never asked me to. We love, praise, and thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.
Related Resource: I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life | Midweek Prayer (John 14:1–6)
When our hearts feel troubled, Jesus invites us to trust Him again.
This short midweek prayer creates space to pause, breathe deeply, and return to Jesus’s words in John 14:1–6, where He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In this guided prayer, we acknowledge the places where worry, uncertainty, or longing have unsettled our hearts and bring them honestly before God.
Jesus reminds us that we are not alone—that He is with us, that He is preparing a place for us, and that He will return for us. As we pray, we ask for help to trust Him more deeply and to follow Him in the way He has already made clear: to love God fully and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Take a few quiet minutes to slow down, listen for God’s invitation, and rest in the presence of the One who leads us in truth and life. If you like what you hear, follow So Much More on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
