9.11.19~ With A Heavy Heart...
Hello friends,
Today is September 11, 2019. I come to you in this post with an extremely heavy heart, for a few reasons. Allow me to share my heart, this evening, with you.
As I stand in honor on this Wednesday, thinking about how our world changed--eighteen years ago today-- I am thankful for the service and sacrifice of the men and women who died. I pray for the families who lost their loved ones, whether in the attack or in the rescue. If you serve in the military, with the fire department, with the police forces, or with the EMS, thank you. You are special.
I was not alive on September 11, 2001. I was just six months and four days away from my arrival into this world, but I came into a world that was forever changed and broken by these attacks.
With an even heavier heart, I look at Monday, September 9, 2019, as someone very special took his own life. Some of you may know the name Jarrid Wilson. Jarrid was a pastor at Harvest America with Greg Laurie. He was a strong mental health advocate and even started an organization with his wife called Anthem Of Hope to reach out to those struggling with suicidal thoughts, depression, and anxiety. Jarrid was always very open about his struggle with depression and anxiety and was honestly a big inspiration and encouragement to me through his tweets, videos, and books.
Unfortunately, Jarrid just couldn't handle his battle with depression anymore, and got ultimate healing from that battle, by being home with his Savior. He left behind a wonderful wife and two young sons who have no idea how to respond to the tragedy that has just struck them. I know you do not know them personally, and I don't either, but there is something special about praying for people you don't know. There is power in prayer.
On the same note of battling suicide, anxiety, and depression... I reflect on my own life and how far God has brought me, through His grace.
Five years ago, I attempted to end my own life. I was sick and tired of being on this Earth and I had tried every single way out that I could, my only choice left was to take my own life and "make it all better," for myself and everyone. OR so I thought.
I. WAS. WRONG.
I did not realize how selfish I was being with that thought. I didn't realize the pain it would leave my family, my sister, my friends, my teachers, everyone. By God's grace, I got a second chance at life, but not everyone can fight like I had the chance to. I am so thankful that God kept me here. And I am very thankful for one special person who helped make sure I stayed alive before and after that.
Thank you to Mr. Lee Daft, for all you did for me. I truly don't think I would be here without you.
I will be one hundred percent open and say that I do still battle a lot of anxiety and I do still battle depression. Life is not easy, ya'll. It's hard. There are nights when I lay awake just thinking, but I'm so often reminded of God's faithfulness through it all.
It is my senior year and this has been the hardest year, emotionally speaking, of all four years of high school. You're living it up one last time. You're going to the last football games, the last band concerts, the last choral concerts, and the list goes on. It hits you hard that eventually you'll do the last assignment of your high school career. You'll walk the halls of your school one last time. You'll celebrate a touchdown one last time.
That is emotionally draining and it is hard. It is hard to decide where you are going to further your education and what field you are going to specialize in. It's a lot, I know. But be reminded that His mercies are new every morning, and His faithfulness stretches through the ages.
See, the statistics of suicide are too high. They will forever be too high until the statistics read "zero percent." No one deserves to feel that empty, because there are truly other ways out of the darkness.
Most suicides happen between ages fifteen to twenty-nine. One suicide occurs every forty seconds.
That's the most chilling and sad thing ever.
Depression is real.
Anxiety is real.
BUT
Hope is real.
Help is real.
Healing is real.
The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is real. He died so you don't have to. Let me say that again, a little bit louder. JESUS CHRIST DIED SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
THERE IS FREEDOM IN HIS NAME. THERE IS HEALING IN HIS NAME. THERE IS HOPE IN HIS NAME.
ALL CHAINS ARE BROKEN IN JESUS' NAME.
Please don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help if you are struggling with depression, anxiety, self harm, suicidal thoughts, or any other mental health concerns. You are not alone. You are not a burden. It is a joy to help you and love you. Please speak up. People need you, people want you. The world will never be the same without you. You are not weird for asking for help.
If you are a depression, anxiety, suicide, self harm, or other mental health survivor, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, share your story. You have absolutely no idea who it might help or who's life you might save. Check on your friends. Check on the kid in the corner and the one in the popular group. Check on the quarterback and check on the cheerleader. Depression doesn't always look sad. It often looks like a smiley, bubbly person, who is fighting harder to stay alive than you'll ever even see.
There's a new song out by Kelsea Ballerini, called "Homecoming Queen." It is actually an amazing song, but I want to focus on these words...
"Hey homecoming queen.
Why do you lie? When somebody's mean. Where do you hide?
Been so good at smiling, most of your life...
But what if I told you the world wouldn't end. If you started showing what's under your skin.
What if you let 'em all in on the lie? Even the homecoming queen cries."
God is faithful through the deepest of waters and the darkest of times. I'm living proof of it.
In 1 Kings 19, Elijah is standing in the valley of dry bones and he is just struggling to believe that God can breathe life back into these bones and raise up and army. Elijah is ready to give up and almost just ends it all. But God picked him back up, and proved Himself faithful.
Elijah said, "I want to die." The Father said, "I'll help you survive."
You are not alone. I pray this speaks to someone. With a heavy heart...
You are loved. You are valuable. No matter how you feel.
love,
Izzy💛💛
Today is September 11, 2019. I come to you in this post with an extremely heavy heart, for a few reasons. Allow me to share my heart, this evening, with you.
As I stand in honor on this Wednesday, thinking about how our world changed--eighteen years ago today-- I am thankful for the service and sacrifice of the men and women who died. I pray for the families who lost their loved ones, whether in the attack or in the rescue. If you serve in the military, with the fire department, with the police forces, or with the EMS, thank you. You are special.
I was not alive on September 11, 2001. I was just six months and four days away from my arrival into this world, but I came into a world that was forever changed and broken by these attacks.
With an even heavier heart, I look at Monday, September 9, 2019, as someone very special took his own life. Some of you may know the name Jarrid Wilson. Jarrid was a pastor at Harvest America with Greg Laurie. He was a strong mental health advocate and even started an organization with his wife called Anthem Of Hope to reach out to those struggling with suicidal thoughts, depression, and anxiety. Jarrid was always very open about his struggle with depression and anxiety and was honestly a big inspiration and encouragement to me through his tweets, videos, and books.
Unfortunately, Jarrid just couldn't handle his battle with depression anymore, and got ultimate healing from that battle, by being home with his Savior. He left behind a wonderful wife and two young sons who have no idea how to respond to the tragedy that has just struck them. I know you do not know them personally, and I don't either, but there is something special about praying for people you don't know. There is power in prayer.
On the same note of battling suicide, anxiety, and depression... I reflect on my own life and how far God has brought me, through His grace.
Five years ago, I attempted to end my own life. I was sick and tired of being on this Earth and I had tried every single way out that I could, my only choice left was to take my own life and "make it all better," for myself and everyone. OR so I thought.
I. WAS. WRONG.
I did not realize how selfish I was being with that thought. I didn't realize the pain it would leave my family, my sister, my friends, my teachers, everyone. By God's grace, I got a second chance at life, but not everyone can fight like I had the chance to. I am so thankful that God kept me here. And I am very thankful for one special person who helped make sure I stayed alive before and after that.
Thank you to Mr. Lee Daft, for all you did for me. I truly don't think I would be here without you.
I will be one hundred percent open and say that I do still battle a lot of anxiety and I do still battle depression. Life is not easy, ya'll. It's hard. There are nights when I lay awake just thinking, but I'm so often reminded of God's faithfulness through it all.
It is my senior year and this has been the hardest year, emotionally speaking, of all four years of high school. You're living it up one last time. You're going to the last football games, the last band concerts, the last choral concerts, and the list goes on. It hits you hard that eventually you'll do the last assignment of your high school career. You'll walk the halls of your school one last time. You'll celebrate a touchdown one last time.
That is emotionally draining and it is hard. It is hard to decide where you are going to further your education and what field you are going to specialize in. It's a lot, I know. But be reminded that His mercies are new every morning, and His faithfulness stretches through the ages.
See, the statistics of suicide are too high. They will forever be too high until the statistics read "zero percent." No one deserves to feel that empty, because there are truly other ways out of the darkness.
Most suicides happen between ages fifteen to twenty-nine. One suicide occurs every forty seconds.
That's the most chilling and sad thing ever.
Depression is real.
Anxiety is real.
BUT
Hope is real.
Help is real.
Healing is real.
The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is real. He died so you don't have to. Let me say that again, a little bit louder. JESUS CHRIST DIED SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
THERE IS FREEDOM IN HIS NAME. THERE IS HEALING IN HIS NAME. THERE IS HOPE IN HIS NAME.
ALL CHAINS ARE BROKEN IN JESUS' NAME.
Please don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help if you are struggling with depression, anxiety, self harm, suicidal thoughts, or any other mental health concerns. You are not alone. You are not a burden. It is a joy to help you and love you. Please speak up. People need you, people want you. The world will never be the same without you. You are not weird for asking for help.
If you are a depression, anxiety, suicide, self harm, or other mental health survivor, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, share your story. You have absolutely no idea who it might help or who's life you might save. Check on your friends. Check on the kid in the corner and the one in the popular group. Check on the quarterback and check on the cheerleader. Depression doesn't always look sad. It often looks like a smiley, bubbly person, who is fighting harder to stay alive than you'll ever even see.
There's a new song out by Kelsea Ballerini, called "Homecoming Queen." It is actually an amazing song, but I want to focus on these words...
"Hey homecoming queen.
Why do you lie? When somebody's mean. Where do you hide?
Been so good at smiling, most of your life...
But what if I told you the world wouldn't end. If you started showing what's under your skin.
What if you let 'em all in on the lie? Even the homecoming queen cries."
God is faithful through the deepest of waters and the darkest of times. I'm living proof of it.
In 1 Kings 19, Elijah is standing in the valley of dry bones and he is just struggling to believe that God can breathe life back into these bones and raise up and army. Elijah is ready to give up and almost just ends it all. But God picked him back up, and proved Himself faithful.
Elijah said, "I want to die." The Father said, "I'll help you survive."
You are not alone. I pray this speaks to someone. With a heavy heart...
You are loved. You are valuable. No matter how you feel.
love,
Izzy💛💛
Izzy. You are so loved!!My world is a better place with you in it. I am always so proud of you. You are amazing and always will be no matter what! I love you!
ReplyDeleteAmy
I'm glad you're still here. ❤
ReplyDelete