Your Life is Worth Living

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” -Psalm 23:4

*Disclaimer: this article contains sensitive content related to suicidal thoughts and depression. I am not a therapist – I only share from my own experience.

During the last few weeks, I have been meditating a lot about my struggles with depression and the times I believed that there was no longer hope for me and that the best decision (in my head) was ending my life. I truly can’t tell the countless times I believed that my life was over, that there was nothing to look forward to, and that there was nothing I could do to change it. Throughout time and after a lot of therapy, prayer, conversations with close family members and friends, and meditation, I learned that there were very specific lies that I have believed during these dark seasons of depression, which are

-My life is not worth living
-My family and friends would be better off without me
-The pain ends after I die

Last year, I went through the darkest and toughest season in my whole life and it was during this time when I hit rock bottom, yet, by the grace of God, I learned that those statements could not be farther from the truth. I know I have not been the only one who has felt that way. Unfortunately, depression, anxiety, and loneliness have been affecting so many people and if you are one of them I am so, so sorry you are going through this. Please know that I am praying for you, and please know that things will get better, please don’t stop fighting. This is why I want to talk to you today, you who believe that there is no hope, you who believe that this is the end of your story, you who believe there is nothing you can do to keep going, you who feels defeated, betrayed, exhausted, you who can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. This is for you, my dear friend.

Today, we will unmask each of those three lies. And if you can think of any other lies, feel free to share them and also declare the truth. Let’s do this.

My life IS WORTH LIVING | Lie: My life is not worth living
This is for the person who is going through a hopeless season, but also for the person who is living his/her life in autopilot: YOUR LIFE IS WORTH LIVING. I know how painful life can be, I know how piercing losing a loved one is, I know how hard it is to find hope when everything good seems so out of reach, I know how frightening it feels to take a decision and feel paralyzed by the fear of taking the wrong one, I know how discouraging it can feel when everybody else seems to be having the time of their lives while you feel stuck in the same stage forever. I know this pain and I know how tough it is, believe me. And because I have been there multiple times, I dare to tell you this: your life has a purpose, it is worth living. Let me say this again: your life has a purpose and it is worth living. It is so worth asking yourself what your dreams are, what your deepest desires are. It is so worth it to ask for help and reach out to people who we believe will receive us with love and who will encourage us to keep going, it is worth taking important decisions when we discern and believe they might be the best one at that time, it is so worth letting go fear little by little and hang on to a God who can do anything and will never do anything to harm you. It is worth seeking psychological, physical, and spiritual help. You are worth everything good in life because Jesus already paid the price for you, He made you worth the blood of the living God, the almighty God, the ever-loving God, the never-changing God. Your life is worth living, ALWAYS. Dare to start over, dare to try one more time, even if today all you can do is getting out of bed and taking a shower: CELEBRATE THIS WIN!! And if your win today is reading this article, CELEBRATE IT AS WELL!!! Because that is what it is: a huge win! I know you have been giving your best, I know there is a part of you seeking hope and freedom, the mere fact that you are reading this shows precisely that! So please do not give up, you are precious, your life has a purpose beyond your understanding.

My family and friends love me for me and not for what I provide or do | Lie: My family and friends would be better off without me
It is so easy to feel like a burden when we need other people’s help. It is so hard to ask for help and depend on others, especially during our most painful and vulnerable times. However, this is the whole purpose of family and friendship: to see, know, hold, and walk with each other during the best, but also the toughest times. When we are going through the dark season of depression, we can literally forget about the people who love us. So I would encourage you to write down a list of the names of those who love you… I know, it seems like no name comes to your mind, but go through your photos, your messages and notice those who are close to you. Having a support system is key here. You are loved, even if your mind tells you otherwise. You are thought of, you are wanted, you are cared about.

One of the moments when I have felt loved the most was when a friend and my brothers told me “I love you, not for what you give or do, but for who you are.” I had told them that I felt like a burden, that I wasn’t even able to give away a smile, it felt so dang hard at those times, that I couldn’t even smile! I couldn’t give them anything, but they reminded me that I could still give myself… my broken, my sad, my empty self, they wanted it. How much more does Jesus want you!!! My friends’ and brothers’ selfless love was able to break something within me and radiate hope, relief, and warmth in my heart. I knew I was loved by them and, man oh man, how much impact it has had in my life. No, your family and your friends wouldn’t be better off without you. You… YOU are important and necessary.

The pain will just be passed along to others | Lie: The pain ends after I die
This is one of the hardest truths I learned: the pain will not end after we die, it will just be passed along to the ones who love us. And when we stop and think about our loved ones, we will try to do what we can to avoid pain and suffering for them.

Let me say this again:

You are not a burden to others.
They will not be better off without you.
You are worth everything good.
God made you with a purpose, not to make fun of you or make you suffer.
Things will get better.
There is still hope and a future for you.
You are important. You are necessary.
Your life is not over. There is hope always!

You are so much more than how you feel, trust me.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” -Jeremiah 29:11