I Am Not OK
Anna Stodolak gives us this encouraging message today. Annie loves her music and we love that she shares her thoughts with us.
I was talking with a friend recently, and she confided that she felt like she was barely holding it together. Between the chaos at home and mounting pressure at work, she hadn’t been sleeping and was emotionally exhausted. Her words stuck with me long after our conversation ended. Later, Jelly Roll’s song “I Am Not Okay” came to mind and it hit me just how perfectly it captures what she’s going through. That raw honesty, it’s like the song was written for moments like hers.
I am not okay
I'm barely getting by
I'm losing track of days
And losing sleep at night
I am not okay
I'm hanging on the rails
So if I say I'm fine
Just know that I learned to hide it well
(Chorus)
I know I can't be the only one
Who's holding on for dear life
But God knows, I know
When it's all said and done
I'm not okay
But it's gonna be alright
It's not okay
But we're all gonna be alright
I woke up today
I almost stayed in bed
Had the devil on my back
And voices in my head
Some days, it ain't all bad
Some days, it all gets worse
Some days, I swear I'm better off
Layin' in that dirt
(Chorus)
Gonna be alright
Gonna be alright
I know one day
We'll see the other side
The pain'll wash awayIn a holy water tide
And we all gonna be alright
Jelly Roll’s “I Am Not Okay” is a powerful, unpolished anthem that echoes the silent battles so many face with mental health, pain, and vulnerability. Rather than offering tidy solutions, it delivers something far more courageous, raw honesty. That kind of truth telling strikes a chord with numerous Bible verses that speak to the beauty found in brokenness, the hope that rises from despair, and the grace that meets us right where we are, especially in our darkest moments.
Verses that reflect pain and vulnerability:
Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” This verse mirrors the song’s message that it’s okay to admit when you’re not okay. God doesn’t shy away from our pain, He draws near.
Psalm 42:11 – “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” Like the song’s chorus, this verse acknowledges emotional turmoil while pointing toward hope.
Verses About Crying Out for Help:
Psalm 18:6 – “In my distress I called upon the Lord… my cry came before him, even into his ears.” Jelly Roll’s lyrics echo this desperate plea for divine attention and comfort.
Romans 8:26 – “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” When words fail, God still hears. That’s the kind of spiritual depth the song taps into.
Verses Offering Hope and Grace:
Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Even when we feel unworthy or lost, grace is still available. The song’s message of “I’m not okay, but it’s all gonna be alright” finds its echo here.
John 15:5 – “Apart from me you can do nothing.” This verse speaks to the humility of admitting we need help, something the song does without shame.
Scripture doesn’t ask us to be perfect, it asks us to be honest. Just like Jelly Roll’s music, which resonates because it’s real, the Bible meets us in our brokenness and invites us to bring our true selves to God. From David’s cries in the Psalms to Paul’s confessions, we see that vulnerability is not a weakness, it’s a doorway to grace. God doesn’t want a perfect act, He wants the real you. He’s looking for open hearts.
Make it a Thoughtful Thursday! God is good…