Ouch! I’m Not OK—And That’s OK
It’s OK to Not Be OK: Finding Healing and Hope in Christ
It’s OK to admit you’re not OK. Life’s bruises and scrapes need more than a brave face—they need healing. Discover how acknowledging your pain and leaning on Christ brings true restoration and beauty from ashes.
When my kids were younger, anytime they got an “owie,” my instinctive response was to say, “You’re OK, you’re OK.” It was a quick attempt to stop the tears and move on. But the truth? They weren’t OK in that moment. They were hurt. Sometimes a little scrape or bruise would linger, but they’d carry on as if it never happened because I had dismissed their pain.
As adults, we often do the same thing. When life hurts—when challenges scrape and bruise our hearts and minds—we quickly put on a brave face, saying, “I’m OK, I’m OK.” But deep down, we’re not. Those hurts often stem from traumatic experiences that can’t be swept under the rug.
Yet, many of us feel the pressure to present a perfect life, especially as Christians. We hide our pain, creating a false image of what it means to follow Christ, as if faith means everything is always fine. But the truth is, it’s not.
Acknowledge the Pain
The Bible doesn’t shy away from the reality of suffering. Jesus Himself said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Trouble, pain, and adversity are unavoidable. Ignoring them doesn’t make them go away—it only prolongs the healing process.
David, a man after God’s own heart, often cried out to God in his pain. He wrote:
“I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears” (Psalm 6:6).
David didn’t hide his hurt. He acknowledged it, brought it before God, and allowed himself to feel the weight of it.
Don’t Get Stuck in the Hurt
While it’s important to acknowledge our pain, we must also guard against becoming trapped in it. Pain is a place we pass through, not where we set up camp. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9:
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
Paul didn’t deny his struggles, but he also didn’t let them define him. Instead, he trusted God to carry him through.
Walking Through the Pain with Christ
Jesus is our ultimate healer. He doesn’t just patch us up—He restores us. But restoration begins with surrender, with bringing our hurts to Him instead of pretending they don’t exist.
Isaiah 61:1-3 paints a beautiful picture of Jesus’ mission:
“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives… to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve… to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes.”
When we let Jesus into our pain, He transforms it. He uses it to refine us, deepen our dependence on Him, and bring us to a place of greater wholeness.
It’s OK to Say, “I’m Not OK”
As Christians, we don’t have to pretend. Authenticity, even in pain, is part of our testimony. When others see us lean into Christ during adversity, they see the real power of the Gospel. Our lives don’t need to be picture-perfect to glorify God—they need to be real.
So, let’s give ourselves permission to say, “Ouch! I’m not OK.” Let’s acknowledge the pain, lean into Christ, and trust Him to lead us through. Life may bruise us, but those scars become stories of His faithfulness. And that’s OK.
Reflection Questions:
1. Are there areas of your life where you’ve been saying, “I’m OK” when you’re not?
2. How can you bring those hurts before God today?
3. Who in your life needs to see the authenticity of your walk with Christ—even in the hard times?
Take heart, friends. God sees your hurts, and He’s ready to walk with you through them. Let Him. You don’t have to hide your pain—it’s OK to not be OK.
