Something that breaks my heart is that there are children and teens out there thinking they are all alone. That they have to deal with all their real life problems on their own. They have no voice. We need to stand up and show them that we are there, we can be trusted and that we can help.
Recently I got to speak to some high school students about depression and suicide. As you have read (HERE), depression has been a moving factor in my life. I am not sure why God would choose it for me or why He would allow it, but I know He has a plan for it. He has a plan for my story and my lessons learned. I am so grateful for that.
Just a week before this talk, these students were asked to write down topics that they wanted discussed at their FCA meetings on Thursday afternoons. Depression and Suicide! WOW. There are teenagers struggling with suicide. There are middle school students struggling with suicide. There are parents struggling with suicide.
Reno, NV has had school shootings, middle school girls committing suicide, high school students committing suicide. All in the last few years.
I shared my story about depression, about my mom's struggle with depression and suicide. How it all affected me.
The best part of my story though, GOD! God gets all the glory.
Did you know that God loves you! He really does. Unconditionally with no strings attached. He created you, He knows you, He sees you!
Here are some verses that helped me:
"And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me:" Gen 16:13
"This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness."
Lam 3:21-23
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee:" Jer 1:5
"The hairs on our head are numbered." Matt 10:30
"Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?"
Psalms 56:8
"Nor height nor depth nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:39
"God is love." 1 John 4:8
"Ye shall not fear them: for the Lord your God he shall fight for you." Deut 3:22
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:2-5
If you know a teen, are a parent to a teen, are an adult or have a friend that is struggling with depression or suicide, please read this book: What Do I Do When Teenagers are Depressed and Contemplate Suicide? by Dr. Steven Gerali. You can find it at your local Christian book store or on Amazon HERE.
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