Feeling Suicidal? About
Dear Friend, GodTest.com
I'm so sorry you’re going through a hard time. Good news, though—there
really is hope. Time will change your current situation. You’ll soon find that
these dark feelings are temporary. Peace and joy are available to you. Sometimes good things happen suddenly. It was New Year's Eve 2003 when I
considered all the people contemplating ending their life that very night. As a
I'm not promising that you’ll never have losses, but the pain will pass as you person who has also experienced a dark night of the soul, I understood how a
keep praying and seeking God. Keep your head high in this storm until the crisis, circumstance or depression could create a state of hopelessness. It’s only
sun shines again. Soon this dark period of your life will be behind you. by the grace of God that I survived my dark night to live a life of joy.
There is hope. Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, Sometimes all it takes to survive a dark time is a little hope and encouragement
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, as well as a fresh perspective of God's love. That's when I decided to hook up
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give my interactive website, GodTest.com, with the suicidal lanes of the Internet.
you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come
and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me That night 20 people came to Christ. By
and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Monday morning 100 people had escaped U.S. Suicide Statistics
Recommendations: suicide and found faith. Two weeks later, we (2005)
were at 12,000 hits and 2000 souls coming to
1. Go to other believers for encouragement. faith. • 1.3% of all deaths are from
Find a church home. Join a small Bible study in a home or church suicide.
setting. Surround yourself with others your age who seek God and I soon added other features to the site. With
study His Word. • On average, one suicide
each improvement, we experienced greater occurs every 16 minutes.
2. Listen to inspirational music. statistics. More than that, we received
personal reports to show the site served a • Suicide is the second leading
You can find Christian music in your favorite style. Try your local cause of death for 25-34
Christian radio station or one online. purpose. A depressed pastor wrote, "Thank
you. This was the worst ministry day of my life. year olds, as well as
Your site helped me feel better." college students.
3. Take time to read the Bible.
If you don't have a Bible, there are versions available on the Web • More people die from suicide
that you can download. Or ask your church for assistance. A dad of a disabled child wrote, "You saved than from homicide.
two lives tonight. You see, I was going to kill • There were over 800,000
4. Read the book, Purpose Driven Life. both myself and my child, but your story has suicide attempts in 2005.
This is a great Bible study and will give you a sense of direction encouraged me. The two of us will live."
and purpose for your life so you feel plugged in.
Since then, we have seen thousands of suicides prevented and over half a
5. Get help. million people have come to faith. Millions have found the encouragement they
Call 9-1-1 or go to an emergency room if you fear you are no need. We’ve recently redesigned the site and hope this will attract even more
longer able to prevent taking your life. Allow someone outside people to the site and encourage them to draw close to God.
your situation to intervene. Also, consider going for counseling.
Seek out a pastor or other professional who will listen, care, and As the president of a tiny nonprofit, Right to the Heart, we are delighted to help
help you with your struggles. and encourage so many. Please visit the site, link to it from your online
You are in our prayers during this difficult season in your life. presence, and spread the word.
Linda Evans Shepherd Linda Evans Shepherd
www.GodTest.com www.GodTest.com
Suicide Helpline: 1-800-SUICIDE Suicide Helpline: 1-800-SUICIDE