When life hits hard — through mental health battles, illness, or deep loneliness — it’s easy to wonder if God’s against us. Today’s devotional is a powerful reminder that God is never our enemy. He is always for us, and His love is constant, even in our darkest moments.
✨ Key Takeaways
💡 Mental health struggles are not rooted in sin — they are real health issues that deserve compassion, care, and proper treatment
💡 God’s Word promises: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
💡 Our emotions are valid, but God’s truth is steady — He has never and will never abandon us
💡 God showed His immense love by giving up His Son for us; how could He not also graciously give us what we need for this life and eternity?
💡 Problems arise because we live in a broken world, not because God is punishing us
🌿 Intersecting Faith & Life
- Have you ever struggled with the feeling that God was against you? What helped shift your perspective?
- Are you navigating a difficult season — mental health, illness, loss — and need a reminder that God is on your side?
- How might reflecting on Romans 8:31-32 reshape the way you face today’s challenges?
📖 Further Reading
Romans 8:37-39 | Hebrews 13:5-6 | Psalm 46:1 | Isaiah 41:10
💬 Join the Conversation
We’d love to hear how you’ve experienced God’s presence in difficult seasons. Share your story @LifeAudioNetwork or at Crosswalk.com — your journey could encourage someone else today.
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Full Transcript Below:
God Is for Us
By Vivian Bricker
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32).
A few years ago, I hit rock bottom. I felt alone in life and I was struggling immensely with my mental health. I had just started recovery for my eating disorder and it was a difficult road ahead. What I didn’t know was that when you enter recovery, you have to cope with your feelings in different ways, rather than restricting your food intake, not eating, or excessively exercising. Due to the self-hate I had, it was hard for me to make this change at first.
If you have also gone through recovery for an eating disorder, you know how difficult it can be. It can make you feel alone, isolated, and scared. Eating disorders are often based out of a source of control and once that control is gone, it can be very frightening. Through God’s help, I have been able to continue to do recovery and I don’t struggle as much as I used to. However, this trust didn’t happen overnight.
At first, I was extremely mad at God. I came to the conclusion that He hated me and didn’t want what was best for me. I also thought that He might be turning a deaf ear to my prayers because I was a bad person for struggling with an eating disorder for so long. Due to unhelpful comments from other Christians, I was convinced that I was struggling with a sin problem rather than a real mental health disorder.
Eating disorders, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and all other mental health disorders are not rooted in sin. They are all mental health disorders that deserve proper treatment and care. If everyone started seeing mental health disorders for what they are—mental health disorders—then we could start moving forward in helping others who are struggling. It only brings harm upon others when they are told their struggles are the result of sin in their life.
If anyone has ever said that to you, know they are wrong. Statements such as these show their lack of biblical knowledge and their lack of relationship with the Lord. Don’t take these things to heart as these individuals are not knowledgeable about mental health disorders. Choose to reflect on the truth: yes, we can struggle with mental health disorders, but they are not because of sin. It wasn’t your fault for getting a mental health disorder.
Similar to how it’s nobody’s fault that they develop heart disease, diabetes, or cancer, it is not your fault for developing a mental health disorder. We all have our own struggles and each of them are valid. During your struggles, you might have felt as though God is not with you or He is causing your suffering. I have been in the same place before. Your feelings are valid, but don’t believe for a second that God is not with you or He is the one causing your suffering.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
The Apostle Paul tells us, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32). As Paul says, God is for us. He is never against us. Just as He did not spare His own Son, but rather gave Him up for us, how will He not also give us all things? This is something to reflect upon as it will help us to know that God is forever on our side.
Even though there are times when we feel as though God has abandoned us or is against us, it is not true. God loves us immeasurably (Romans 8:37-39). With His immeasurable love, He will graciously give us all things. Since God didn’t even spare His own Son, how can we question His love? The very fact that God gave up His Son in order to die for our sins shows the great love He has for us.
As you walk through today, choose to reflect on what you know—God is for you. He is never against you and He will never bring problems into your life. Problems will arise, such as mental health disorders, but they are not curses brought upon us by God. Rather, they are part of living in the fallen world.
God will help us as we face any diagnosis or any situation. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). With this promise in our hearts, we can confidently walk into each day, knowing that He is with us and He is for us.
Have you ever struggled with the thought that God is against you? What was this like?
Are you currently struggling with a mental health disorder or a physical illness? If so, have you ever felt God caused your suffering?
How can you embrace the truth that God is always for you?
“Dear God, I have often struggled with the thought that You don’t want good things for my life. I know now that You are always for me and only want the best for me. Forgive me for thinking differently in the past. Please help me to walk confidently each day because I know You are with me and You are on my side. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen.”
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