Breaking Free From Sadness

The Spirit of the Lord God has taken control of me! The Lord has chosen and sent me to tell the oppressed the good news, to heal the brokenhearted, and to announce freedom for prisoners and captives.

Isaiah 61:1 (CEV)

There is a sadness that doesn’t go away quickly, a heartache that brings physical pain. Many people will try anything to get rid of it—food, alcohol, drugs, even hurting themselves. Maybe you’ve seen this in yourself or others.

But the truth comes harder: none of these will fix this kind of heartache. They make the pain worse and speed up the downward spiral.

Anyone dealing with such heartache needs to deal with the root causes of the issues they are facing. The shame, despair, fear, and loneliness need real answers—and that answer is Jesus. That’s not a flippant, trite thing to say. Jesus, God’s only Son, came bringing news that truly matters, healing hearts at the very core, and releasing prisoners from all kinds of chains.

Are you feeling hurt or sad right now? Jesus came to help you. He is still your Savior today, just like he was for the world all those years ago on the cross. He cares for you.

Watch for this hurt in your friends, too. Listen, really listen to their troubles. Don’t downplay it or brush it aside. Hear their heart and love them enough to help them find help through a caring adult, especially if they are threatening to hurt themselves. Pray. Read God’s Word. Watch for the light to break through.

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Write the below words in a journal or on a piece of paper. As you do, think about these key words in today’s Scripture verse.

• Spirit
• Control
• Sent
• Oppressed
• Heal
• Freedom

INSPIRATION

“It does not matter what your personal deficiency, or whether it be 101 different things, God has always one sufficient answer, his Son Jesus Christ, and he is the answer to every need.”

—Watchman Nee, Chinese church leader and Christian teacher

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help you expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Psalm 43:5

Isaiah 57:15

Matthew 11:4–6

1 Peter 4:10–11

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This devotional was written by Tonia Gutting for the Hero Squad Program of the American Bible Society. Hero Squad provides complimentary faith-based resources to strengthen and encourage Military families through God’s Word. For more information or to enroll your Military family, check out our website.www.myherosquad.org.