Lesson 1: God Is Sovereign in Our Darkness

Dark seasons come to every believer. Depression, despair, confusion, grief, discouragement—these things can make even strong Christians feel forgotten or spiritually empty. One of the first truths I want you to hear in this course is this:

“It’s okay to not be okay.”

You’re not less spiritual because you’re hurting. You’re not weak because you’re struggling. And you’re certainly not alone.

God Works in the Dark Before We Ever See the Light

When I read Isaiah 45, I see a God who is already working behind the scenes long before His people know anything is happening. God raised up Cyrus—a pagan king—to open gates, break bars of iron, and set His people free. Israel felt lost and exiled, but God was already preparing their deliverance.

That tells me something important:
Even when life feels like it’s falling apart, God is not idle. God is not distant. And God is not confused. He is moving in ways we cannot see.

There have been seasons in my life where it felt like every light went out at once. I didn’t see God working. I didn’t feel Him near. But looking back, He was aligning things with absolute precision. He was going before me.

Darkness Does Not Hide You From God

Depression can make you feel like God is nowhere to be found. Pain can make prayer feel impossible. Grief can turn silence into loneliness.

But Scripture says otherwise.

Psalm 139 says:

“If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me… even the night shall be light about me…
the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”

That means God sees you clearly in the dark.
He knows where you are.
He knows what you carry.
And darkness does not change how close He is to you.

Even if you can’t feel Him, He is there.

Depression Is Real — and the Bible Doesn’t Hide It

One of the worst things I’ve ever heard from a pulpit is someone claiming,
“There’s no such thing in the Bible as depression.”

That’s simply not true.

• Elijah begged God to take his life.

• Hannah wept until she had no more strength.

• Jonah wished to die.

• David cried through the night.

• Job sat in silence, crushed by grief.

These were heroes of the faith—warriors of Scripture—yet they faced dark emotional valleys. If they struggled, it’s no surprise that we do too. Your battle with depression does not make you less spiritual. It makes you human.

You Don’t Have to Battle Alone

In the sermon connected to this lesson, I shared a story about a friend from jiu-jitsu who called me one night with an empty bottle of Jack Daniels on his table and a .45 pistol in his lap. He didn’t call me because he felt strong. He didn’t call me because he had it together. He called because he was on the edge.

And I told our church:

“He reached out.”

Reaching out saved his life.

There is no shame in saying that you need help. There is no weakness in admitting you’re overwhelmed. There is courage in asking someone to walk with you. Whether it’s emotional, spiritual, or professional help — God often uses people as His instruments of rescue.

When You Can’t See God’s Hand, You Must Trust His Heart

This line has become an anchor truth in my own storms:

“When you can’t see His hand, trust His heart.”

There will be moments where answers don’t come quickly.
Prayers feel heavy.
The Bible feels distant.
And the night feels long.

But God’s character does not change when your emotions do.

He is still good…Still sovereign… Still near… Still working.

You may not understand the purpose behind the darkness yet — but God never wastes it.

Your Darkness Is Not the End of Your Story

You may feel exiled like Israel.
You may feel forgotten.
You may feel broken beyond repair.

But if you’re still breathing, God still has purpose for you. He is not finished. He is not done writing your story. And this dark season is not permanent — it is a chapter, not the conclusion.

Isaiah 45 shows us a God who goes before us, breaks barriers, clears paths, and works long before we’re aware of it.

This lesson is your reminder that you are not alone, you are not abandoned, and the darkness you’re walking through is not a sign of God’s absence — it is a place where He is preparing something deeper.

Let’s keep going.