When God Says “I Still Love You” in Your Darkest Moments
Episode 18 Part 2 of my conversation with Author Chris Morris
In this episode, (you can listen down below) I sit down with author, speaker and mental‑health advocate Chris Morris to talk about a moment that changed everything for him. In 2020, during one of the darkest seasons of his life, Chris attempted to end his life. What came next were two conversations - in the psych ward, in the middle of shame, anger, and despair.
Chris heard God speak the words he least expected: “I still love you.”
Not after he got better or after he pulled himself together. Just right there in the middle of the mess.
The next day, his pastor walked in and spoke words that restored dignity instead of demanding performance: “Our church is incomplete without you.”
For Chris, those words were life from the dead.
So many of us ache for belonging. That’s why this episode and Chris’ story matters. Because two truths thread themselves throughout the episode: You cannot un-earn God’s love. And. There is a place for you inside of God’s family.
In this conversation, Chris and I talk about:
what it’s like to meet God in the middle of depression and suicidality
how spiritual dismissal and “pray more” theology deepen shame
why belonging is not earned through performance
the power of going first and giving others “the gift of going second”
how to discern when a church space is harming your mental health
what hope looks like when the season feels endless
If you’re in a dark place, or you’ve been carrying the fear that you’re too much, too broken, or too far gone, hear this clearly: you are not alone, and your story is not over. Chris’s honesty is an invitation to breathe again — and to believe that God’s love does not flinch at your darkness.
Listen here:
If you’d like to connect with Chris, you can find him at www.chrismorriswrites.com
Instagram: Chris Morris
Journal Prompts
1. When have you heard (or longed to hear) “I still love you” in a place you felt unworthy of love?
Reflect on a moment when you felt ashamed, overwhelmed, or convinced you were too much.
What would it change if God’s first response to you in that moment was love, not correction?
2. Where in your life do you feel “replaceable,” and what would it mean to believe your presence is actually needed?
Chris’s pastor told him, “Our church is incomplete without you.”
Where do you struggle to believe that about yourself?
What part of you has been waiting to hear that you matter?