When God Gives You Your Breath Back | Sarah Jakes Roberts | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

When God Gives You Your Breath Back

Sarah Jakes Roberts

ONE, A Potter's House Church • Nov 9, 2025 • 16 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

Our soul is the breath of God living inside of us, making our daily lives the very instrument through which God exhales His purpose and glory into the earth. Though life's trials, grief, and heartbreak can knock the wind out of us and damage our souls, God intimately sees our hidden afflictions and knows how to recall His breath. True spiritual restoration is not merely receiving material things back, but having God restore who you were before you experienced the loss.

Themes

Restoration of the SoulLiving as God's ExhaleDivine Support in ParentingThe God Who Sees (El Roi)Healing from Loss and Heartbreak

Key Points

1.
God promises to step in and fill the gaps when parents feel inadequate or make mistakes in raising their children.
2.
Our human soul originates directly from God's breath (Genesis 2:7), meaning our soul is His divine spirit and inspiration alive in the earth.
3.
Believers are created to be God's exhale, manifesting His glory whenever they step into their purpose, work, and relationships.
4.
The enemy targets human souls to suffocate what God wants to release and accomplish through us in the world.
5.
Living as God's exhale requires deliberate soul work—including therapy, mentorship, and self-reflection—to resolve internal brokenness.
6.
Biblical restoration in Psalm 23:3 means God recalls His breath within us, restoring who we were before heartbreak, loss, or grief altered us.
7.
God relentlessly pursues us regardless of where we wander because we carry His breath inside of us.
8.
As seen in Hagar's story (Genesis 16), God will pause the primary plot to meet those who feel sidelined, proving He hears unspoken afflictions and is "the God who sees."

Sermon Moments

“When you step into your purpose, God exhales.”

“God will take over the parenting for you. He'll fill in the gap.”

“The enemy is not trying to knock the wind out of you; he's trying to knock the wind out of what God wants to do in the earth.”

“Restoration is not when God gives me back what I lost; restoration is when God gives you back who you lost.”

“God will pause the plot to go get somebody else... because you carry His breath.”

“If you're so busy protecting your soul, you're going to miss how God can perfect your soul.”

“She is the first person in the Bible to ever give God a name... and she calls Him the God who sees.”

This Week

Surrender your fears and perceived inadequacies as a parent to God, trusting Him to fill in the gaps for your children.

Ask yourself daily: "Is God exhaling through me right now, or am I breathing out my own fear, doubt, or anger?"

Invest intentionally in your soul work by seeking therapy, tools, and godly mentorship to heal broken internal places.

Guard your speech and access, ensuring your words and conduct align with being an vehicle for God's exhale.

Quickly practice humility and repent when your actions or words fail to reflect God's presence inside you.

Trust God for true soul restoration after heartbreak, asking Him to return you to who you were before experiencing loss.

Bring your unspoken pain and feelings to God, knowing He hears what is underneath the surface even when you lack the words.

Remember This

Your soul is God's breath and exhale in the earth, and He is faithful to restore your soul by giving you back who you were before life knocked the wind out of you.

A Challenge for You

Give God whatever you have, knowing that you serve a God who sees your soul, hears your unspoken afflictions, and desires to give you your breath back.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.