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Showing My Friends My Faith

“The LORD will lead you into the land. He will always be with you and help you, so don’t ever be afraid of your enemies. “

[Deuteronomy 31:8 CEV]

Mauri writes:

Some of my friends and I have started sending bible verses to each other everyday for encouragement, and this is one I sent one day. This has helped me so much lately.

I have a best friend that is going through depression (at 13 I might add). She also has lost all faith and belief in God. She says she’s mentally incapable of believing that God could fix all of this, and that it’s hard to trust in someone who she’s not sure even exists.

It scares me to death to wake up every morning and there being a possibility of her being gone. But it’s even scarier to think of where she’d going if that happens. I told my youth leader about her depression and the harm she does to herself, and he told her parents. She actually has a doctor’s appointment next week.

But anyway, his whole situation has definitely helped me in my walk with God. I’ve had to work extra hard to live my life as a Christian, because this situation brought me to the realization that the way you act does affect other people.

The other night, I almost gave up. I’ve been living the Christian life around her, I’ve brought God up around her almost everyday, I’ve shown love and care, everything I’m told to do..but it seemed like nothing was working. I felt like every effort I was putting forth to help her was pointless.

I started thinking more on this verse though, and it hit me. God’s leading everything for me, I just have to go along. He knows what will come out of the situation. Satan tried to discourage me, but I finally realized that I shouldn’t be discouraged if I’m doing something for the glory of God.

Story posted on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 and is filed under Praise, Bible, God's Love, Hope, Your Stories, Suicide, Mentoring, Struggles, Evangelization, Prayer, Life Verse. | 1 Comment »

I Am Struggling

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”

[Matthew 22:37 NIV]

Nicole writes:

i dont know why but i always loved that phrase because i do love god with my heart,soul,and mind but i think im not needed, that it would be easier if i was gone so i wouldnt feel the pain.My friends just made it worse by being mad and scared and by that it just put more pain on me with their anger.When i was a little girl my parents got divorced,my brother who i loved so very much was stealing , i felt like it was all my fault even if it truly wasnt. yet i couldnty help thinking. I know god loves me but the pain of what ive been through in my life hurts and now im still thinking about suicide and my brothers in prison. I looked up to my big bro but maybe people wouldnt care if i was gone. im getting help for my depression and i promise i will try!!

Story posted on Friday, December 19th, 2008 and is filed under Loneliness, Sadness, Your Stories, Suicide, Struggles, Prayer, Life Verse. | 2 Comments »

God Reached Me At My Lowest Point

“No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married.”

[Isaiah 62:4 NIV]

Lissy writes:

Well this is my favorite verse in the entire world. I guess I should tell you why. I thught for a period in my life that life wasn’t worth living, and although I had people all around me telling me I was beautiful, deep down I didn’t believe it. Then at summer camp this past summer I said yes to God and resurrendered my life. If you’re reading this and you are struggling with suicide, get some help! I promise you, it’s not worth it.

Story posted on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 and is filed under Praise, Bible, God's Love, Hope, Loneliness, Your Stories, Struggles, Suicide, Conversions, Life Verse. | 1 Comment »

From Homelessness to Salvation

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

[Philippians 4:13 NIV]

Richard H. writes:

I am a 56-year-old divorced man living in Florida.

I had a really messed up childhood, starting at the age of 3, when I was adopted. I felt unloved and unwanted from the very beginning, which resulted in a lot of trouble at school, in the service, and in my marriage of 12 years to my high school sweetheart, who divorced me in 1979.

I could not hold down a job. Every job I would get I would get fired or quit for one reason or another — but the real reason was drugs and alcohol.

Eventually I lost my apartment because I could not pay rent and ended up being on the street homeless. I stayed that way for 4 years.

I thought my life was over, and I contemplated suicide many times, but I didn’t want to go to hell so I decided against it. But I was extremely miserable and had no friends.

I finally got out of the homeless camp and broke into a warehouse, where I lived in a 12×12 room.

One night I was sitting outside my warehouse, drunk as could be, when a man leaving the corner bar came walking down my street. As he approached, I saw myself in him.

This part is hard to explain, but I will do the best I can. As he got closer, I started to weep and I cried out, “God! Help me! I cannot keep going this way! Just take me out of here! I don’t want to live any more!”

And for 20 minutes or so I wept on my knees till I was exhausted. Then I got up and flopped myself down on the old broken-down couch I used for a bed and drifted off to sleep.

At six o’clock in the morning, I was awakened by someone calling my name, “Richard, Richard, Richard, you
must stop drinking, you must stop smoking, and you must go back to church.”

And as he said that, a feeling of warm liquid flowed through my body, starting from my head to the bottoms of my feet, and I yelled out, “Thank you, Jesus!”

I knew instantly that Jesus Christ had healed me, and this was before I knew what any of this meant. But I knew that I would never need drugs or alcohol ever again! I knew it!

He put a love into me so amazing that there are no words to express it. He totally turned my whole life around.

I put my trust in him and asked him to lead me to the church he wanted me to be a member of, and he did. I asked him to find me a home and a job, and he did.

And the good news is I have never looked back. I have the same job and go to the same church that he led me to.

But that is not the best news. The best news is I know where I am going now when I leave this world — I’m going to heaven. And I know why I am here, and it’s to serve him — and I do with all my heart.

He is real! And if you don’t know him, I implore you to get to know him. He waits for you with open arms. He will be the best friend you will ever have, and he loves you very much.

God bless you! And thank you for taking the time to read my testimony.

And if you know of anyone who needs to hear this, please don’t wait! Send it to them. This might be the last chance they will have to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior.

Story posted on Friday, May 9th, 2008 and is filed under Drugs & Alcohol, Loneliness, Praise, God's Love, Hope, Your Stories, Conversions, Grace, Struggles, Divorce & Marital Conflict, Suicide, Life Verse. | 2 Comments »

My New Purpose in Life

“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

[Acts 14:22 NIV]

Corinne R. writes:

I am the mom of Olivia Corinne Hoff, who passed away April 22, 2004. Olivia was only 14 years old. She died of a heart condition we knew nothing about, LQTS Elongated QT Syndrome, known as the silent killer of young adults.

I didn’t know how I would survive and live without my daughter. I highlighted this verse (Acts 14:22) because my daughter’s death is the most painful hardship I would ever have to endure in my life. I did think of committing suicide and going home to be with Olivia, but I knew this was not my purpose.

What was my purpose? How can there be a purpose for my life? How, with all my pain, my confusion, the huge hole in my heart, my lack of desire to go on, how can there be a purpose for my life?

Well, it has now been three years since the death of my only daughter, and here I am today sharing how God has rescued me and is revealing his purpose to me daily.

I now know that God is getting ready to put me on a journey I never thought I would go on — a journey of sharing my testimony and reaching out to other parents who have lost a child.

I believe with all of my heart that the Lord directs me every day of my life, he is in control of my life, he will show me how to honor my daughter’s memory. I just have to wait and listen.

“The best things in life are the result of being wounded. Wheat must be crushed before becoming bread, and incense must be burned by fire before its fragrance is set free. The earth must be broken with a sharp plow before being ready to receive the seed. And it is a broken heart that pleases God. Yes, the sweetest joys of life are the fruits of sorrow.”

Story posted on Monday, February 18th, 2008 and is filed under Praise, Hope, Sadness, Death, Loneliness, Your Stories, God's Sovereignty, Struggles, Verses, Suicide, Most Popular Stories. | 17 Comments »

Finding Treasures in Darkness [3:27]

Chris Thyberg, Associate Executive Director for American Bible Society, shares how sometimes God only gives us certain “treasures” when we are in the middle of “darkness”. He uses the example of his brother’s suicide and how while he grieved for a year, God revealed himself in a way he never could have done before.

Story posted on Thursday, January 24th, 2008 and is filed under Your Videos, Bible, ABS Stories, Suicide, Christian Families. | 1 Comment »

I Was Depressed and Suicidal

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

[Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV]

Shay H. writes:

God loves me in spite of my shortcomings; only he is perfect. He has shown me my heart and informed me that there are many people in this world but his plan would not do without me. That’s how much you and I mean to him. God doesn’t make mistakes.

About three years ago, God brought me out of a backsliding situation. I was divorced, abused, addicted to prescription drugs, a heavy drinker, as well as an adulterous woman and suicidal. I lost everything; I was on a path of destruction.

I was so depressed I couldn’t even put my feet on the ground to get out of bed; my children were suffering because of my actions. I remember crying out to God, saying if you will just put my feet on the ground, I will follow you all the days of my life.

So, he did … and I have been following him ever since. I no longer do any of the former things I did, I am a new creation. I even quit smoking in January 2007, without one relapse. He was my strength and still is and always will be.

I re-married my husband within 90 days of that prayer, and I have been given back abundantly more than I ever lost. God has done miracle after miracle. There are so many to list. The greatest of all is that his presence saturates my life in all aspects.

I always wanted a father-daughter dance cause I never knew my earthly father. So I wrote this to God my father: “Dear Daddy, I gently take each step here on earth, to one day dance with you gracefully in heaven.”

I look forward to that day, and I have God to thank for it.

To you and yours, blessings of peace,

Shay H.

Story posted on Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 and is filed under Praise, Hope, Drugs & Alcohol, Your Stories, Divorce & Marital Conflict, Suicide, Struggles. | 2 Comments »

Lyrycyst shares testimony

Christian hip hop artist, Lyrycyst, shares a powerful story of his childhood - born to a 15 year old drug addicted mother, he’s been a victim of abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts, and homelessness. He shares how his friend invited him to church when he was 19 years old, and he became a Christian that day.

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Story posted on Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 and is filed under Video Stories, Hope, Lyrycyst, Drugs & Alcohol, Suicide, Evangelization, Divorce & Marital Conflict, Grace. | 2 Comments »

I’m Learning to Forgive Myself

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

[Galatians 2:20 NIV]

Danielle H. writes:

I am 17 years old, and I live in a girls group home in Minnesota. I grew up in a very dysfunctional family system and was abused in many ways. I eventually ended up in the foster care system.

Over time I began cutting myself and thinking of suicide. I acted out in other ways, too. Earlier this year my social worker picked me up and took me to the girls group home, where I am now. I was not very happy, but I knew I needed to go. I had to because I was still obsessive, sleeping around with boys, and things like that.

One night not long ago I was reading my Bible and I came across Galatians 2:20 NIV. I read it and meditated on it for a long time. And that verse has helped me in so many was.

I figured that if God can send his son Jesus to die for me and he went through all that pain for me, then I can change for him. Every time I feel like doing something I think “What would Jesus do?” and I know that he gives me the things I can handle and has control over me.

I am not obsessive anymore, and I don’t cut myself or think of suicide. I have not done that for 6 months now. I still have a lot to work on, but I know I can do it, because I can do all things through Christ. And without him I would be dead or somewhere doing bad things.

I thank Jesus every day and am learning to forgive myself. I honestly believe that I cannot be truly happy or myself without Christ. Oh, and when I get discharged, I may be going to live with my mom. God brought her back into my life! I hope that this has shown you what God can do. Imagine what he can do for any of you!

Story posted on Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 and is filed under Your Stories, Suicide, Struggles. | 4 Comments »

Seventh Day Slumber: Freedom from Suicide & Drugs

Joseph Rojas from Seventh Day Slumber, shares his powerful testimony: unpopular at school, a victim of abuse, a convicted felon, drug addict, and suicidal; Joseph cried out to Christ while on the brink of death.

Show Transcript

Story posted on Tuesday, September 25th, 2007 and is filed under Video Stories, Seventh Day Slumber, Drugs & Alcohol, Loneliness, Suicide, Conversions, Divorce & Marital Conflict. | 3 Comments »