When depression becomes more than we can bear, it’s easy to turn to suicide as the solution. But ending our lives is not the answer to fix the hardships of life. There is hope and that is found only through Jesus. Jesus is the answer.

Even though I grew up in the church pews, I thought of ways to end my life. My faith was dead. I had no idea what hope felt like or even looked like and was numb to everything around me.

I remember being 6 years old and my dad would drag my mom down the street to beat her. He then made me feel worthless because I couldn’t get an ambulance. I would be locked in the closet and hit with metal cords and would pee myself.

I was living in crisis daily.

The molestation began in my sleep, then the cutting and the abandonment of false lovers. I wanted to end my life but one day I was old enough to see the trash of ashes in my heart.

There was only one thing I could do, one last prayer of hope and that was to invite Jesus into my life.

Jesus saved me from suicide when I had no one. He showed me true love and opened my eyes to see that I was valued, loved, and His beloved child.

Suicidal thoughts come from the enemy – they come through emotions of fear, anger, and bitterness. Demons will taunt us and place lies in our minds that ending our lives will be better than living in this life.

But that is a lie. There is a solution and Jesus is the answer.

Jesus still has a purpose for your life no matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been. There is no one too hopeless for Jesus. Hope doesn’t come from your situation but from Jesus. Jesus can bring hope to others through your hardships.

Nothing is impossible with God and He is able to take our pain and turn it into joy. He will use our life as a testimony to bring hope and life to others.

There is a love that is constant and endless and that only comes from Jesus.

God doesn’t promise us that we will be excluded from hardships, but he does promise us that we will come out of our hardships as overcomers through Jesus.

Romans 8:37 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

We must learn to say no to the lies of the enemy and say yes to Jesus. Our yes to Jesus will take us further than we think. Jesus will lead us out of our troubled lives into a life of victory to be the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14)

Jesus can do anything to turn our situations around. Matthew 19:26 says, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Jesus died while we were all sinners so that we could have hope and everlasting life with Him. The enemy wants us to end our lives so that we miss out on what Jesus died for us.

But you don’t have to end your life because Jesus gave up his life for you. 

Jesus wants to turn your life into a testimony for others. Will you give your heart to Jesus and surrender your life to Him? Will you believe that nothing is impossible with God? 

Romans 8:1 reminds us, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Don’t let your situation define your worth. Jesus found you worthy enough to die for.

Satan tempted Jesus to end his life (Luke 4:9-11) so he will try to tempt us too. However, we have the word of God to stand firm against the lies of the enemy. We must not give in to the troubles of this world but turn to God who is able to turn our messy lives around.

Jesus tells us in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We can overcome our troubles because we have Jesus. If Jesus was able to overcome the grave, He surely is able to overcome any situation we will face. So remember, Jesus is the answer.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that my life doesn’t have to end in defeat because you bring hope and victory to our lives. 

Testimony of Ruth Martinez – Follow her on Instagram @he_tookthecross