“HEY, HEY! I’m guessing that if you are reading this, you may be struggling to find peace in your life. Maybe you think nobody cares about you. Or maybe you feel alone and wonder why you were even born. Perhaps you are hurting so much that it’s difficult to make it through the day. I’m here to tell you that God has a purpose and a plan to give you a beautiful future. 

My name is Ollie, and like you, I’m a teen. Like you, I have gone through seasons of anxiety, stress, and even depression. During those times, I found myself longing for help. When life was at its lowest, my mom, Amber, pointed me to Bible verses that gave me hope in my havoc. When I shared with her about how low I was feeling, she reminded me about God’s love for me—which was life-changing in my stressed-out mental state. As I consistently read God’s Word, I found the answers and encouragement that I needed to battle life’s demons and satisfy my soul. Through this devotional, I want to share with you that same biblical wisdom and guidance.

As a former middle and high school teacher, my mom has always had a heart for leading young people toward the truth of the Bible, and she spent years helping teenagers live out their best life while walking with Jesus. We both believe that counseling, medication, and other interventions can be used by God to help those who struggle with mental health issues, but we also believe that leaning on God to carry us through hard seasons is a gift that can change everything. The hope of Christ offers a deeper kind of healing for our minds and souls that’s accessed as our relationship with Jesus grows and becomes more meaningful. 

We hope to shine a light into the dark corners of your hurting heart. Each devotional will focus on the ways you can feel known, loved, forgiven, guided, hopeful, treasured, equipped, healed, victorious, heard, chosen, protected, joyful, purposeful, and peaceful. We’ve written devotions for each section that offer hope for your weary mind. The devotionals include a Bible verse to meditate on and a simple prayer to help you take the first step in casting your cares on the Lord. 

While writing this devotional, my mom and I were also blessed to work with two mental health professionals who have been kind enough to provide insights, resources, and practices as additional support as you go on this journey. Know that we are praying for you, and we believe God placed this book in your life at just the right time to assure you that you are not alone. You are not overlooked. You are seen, and everything is going to be okay.”

—Ollie