What if “I’m fine” isn’t the whole truth?

In this first episode of a two-part series, I sit down with family friend and former pastor Fred Young to unpack his sermon series, “I’m Fine…but Not Really,” all about the emotions we often hide—especially in the church.

Together, we talk about:

• Why it’s biblical and healthy to say, “It’s okay to not be okay.”

• How Scripture shows us a deeply emotional God—Jesus weeping over Lazarus, agonizing in Gethsemane—and what that means for our own sadness.

• The difference between sadness and despair (that “tunnel with no light” feeling) and why you should never walk through it alone.

• The “front of the house vs. back of the house” analogy and how it mirrors our social media highlight reels.

• How the Psalms (especially Psalms 42, 55, 69, and 88) give language to our tears and show us we’re not the only ones who feel this way.

• The emotion of confusion—especially when people we trust hurt us—and why it’s so important that God is never confused, even when we are.

• How to begin discerning: Is this just my emotion… or is God using this emotion to lead me?

If you’ve ever buried your feelings to “be strong,” or worried that your emotions make you less spiritual, this conversation is for you. Fred gently reminds us that emotions are a gift from God, not an identity to worship or a problem to bury—and that God meets us in them, not just once we’ve “pulled it together.”

💛 If you’re in a really dark place right now, please don’t stay silent. You don’t have to tell everyone—but you do need to tell someone. Reach out to a trusted friend, pastor, counselor, or local crisis line today.

This is Part 1, where we cover sadness, despair, and confusion.
Next week, we’ll be back with Part 2 to continue the series on emotions and identity in Christ on Overcomers.