Posts by TheHopeLine Team

You Belong in this Family!

The moment you are saved you are welcomed into the family of God. This promise is given in the Bible, “To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12). This family is called the Church. It is important to know a few things about how to find a church in your community.

The Church is so much more than the four walls and roof of a building. The Church is every believer, young and old, all across the world who have called out to God and asked to be saved. In fact, the Church is a chosen people, God’s very own possession.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, who once were not a people but are now the people of God. 1 Peter 2:9-10

So, you belong to the broader idea of the church, but how do you go about finding a local church in your community? Here are some tips:

Finding a Local Church

How do you get connected to this family? As a Christian, you are automatically part of God’s large family called the Universal Church. God also has a smaller family for you to be a part of called a local church. A local church is simply a group of believers in Jesus who have committed to support each other and follow Jesus together. God knows you need the guidance of a pastor, the care of other Christians, and the safety and support of a good church home to help you grow as a Christian.

We have talked about church being like a family. It is important to understand that no church is perfect, just like no family is perfect. In fact, it is best to think of the local church as a hospital. It is full of broken people who are forming a community of believers while finding hope and healing from the Lord.

Where do you start?

Practical Steps to Finding a Local Church

Most communities have plenty of churches available, but where do you begin your search?

1. The internet. It's not bad to start the same place we search for everything else in our lives - Church Finder is a great website for finding a Christian Church in your community. Check out the websites of many churches. Read any reviews. What church appeals to you?  Check those out.
2. Ask Around.  Do you have any friends/teachers/co-workers/family members who attend church?  Get curious and ask around to where people go to church.
3. Drive around on a Sunday morning.  You probably pass by many churches every day.  On a Sunday morning are the parking lots full? Find out what time the service starts and go next week.
4. Visit more than one church.  It's o.k., even good, to visit a few churches before choosing one.  Trying different churches allows you to see where you feel most comfortable, what worship style you like, where you think God can teach you the most and where God can use you.  If the first few you visit, don't feel like a fit for you, don't give up. Keep searching. If you love the first one you visit, keep going!

Is On-Line Church Enough?

God's purpose for the church is not to simply hear a sermon.  Sermons are good, and, in fact, as you are looking for a church, listening to some on-line sermons may be helpful to see what that church believes. But there is so much more to Church than a sermon.  God's purpose for the church is to build community and support...to learn from others and care for one another...to serve together and share the good news of Jesus together.  You can't get that on-line. This isn't about checking a box on Sunday morning.  This is about being a part of a family.

They joined with the other believers in regular attendance at the apostles’ teaching sessions and at the Communion services and prayer meetings... met in small groups in homes for Communion, and shared their meals with great joy and thankfulness, praising God.  Acts 2:42,46-47

So, how do you find the right Church that teaches the right stuff? The following questions might help guide your search:

What Makes a Good Church?

1. Does the church believe that faith in Jesus is the only way to be saved?

Jesus himself tells us that He is the way, the truth and the life and that no one can come to the Father except through him (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to be saved. Some churches teach that faith in Jesus is not enough, but rather that there are extra things that need to be done to be saved. This is not what God intended. We can never do enough, on our own to be saved.  The salvation message presented should be that the only way to God is through believing in His son Jesus. Believing that he came to earth to die for the sins of mankind and that he also rose again after three days. Death, burial and resurrection. Salvation through grace by faith alone.

2. Does the church believe that the Bible is 100% true and teach from the entire Bible?

Some churches only believe that certain parts of the Bible are true. Others reject the Bible altogether in favor of the writings of their church founder. This is a red flag.

You will want to find a church that respects the Bible as God’s complete Word. Keep in mind that all scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. (2 Timothy 3:16).  It is essential that, in addition to the message of salvation, the church teaches about how you are to grow in the Lord and applies the Bible to our daily life.  Look at the information on the church’s website and see if they offer small group Bible studies. Also, many church’s post the pastor’s sermons on their website. You may want to listen to a few.

3. Is the church active in the community?

Do they reach out to the community to be the hands and feet of Jesus and serve those in need?  Does the church tell others about Jesus? If not, then it is not following one of Jesus’ direct commandments. Jesus tells us to go out into our communities and tell them about God. We should all want to share what God has done for us.  It is important to find a church that does the same. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’” (Matthew 28:18-20)

4. Does the church also have times of fellowship for its members?

Become part of a church that has ways for you to get involved for your own personal growth and encouragement. Do they offer Bible Studies, Sunday School or Small Groups? Small Group ministries within a church are very helpful for connecting you to other people so you feel a part of the community. Also are there opportunities to serve within the church and be involved?

5. What are the Foundational Beliefs of the Church?

Just as you would want your home to have a solid foundation to support the structure, a church also needs a solid foundation. Here are important foundational beliefs.

• Belief in the Trinity. One God in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  1. God the Father - Creator of Heaven and Earth
  2. God the Son -  Jesus who paid the price for our sins
  3. God the Holy Spirit - the counselor sent to live within us when we believe.
• Baptism (infant or adult) is taught as representation of your salvation. Baptism does not add to your salvation, it does not save you. It is a showing to others that you have accepted Christ into your heart and life and that you want to follow him in your life from this day forward.
• Communion or The Lord’s Supper is practiced. The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. Jesus told his disciples this during his last supper before he died:

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."  Matthew 26:26-28

Ask God for Guidance

As you start your search for a church, ask God for guidance through prayer. God wants you to find church where you will grow in your faith, be encouraged by other Christians, and serve Him. As you pray to God for direction in this process, trust that He will direct you to exactly where He wants you to be.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

The Stories Project: Camille

Camille Paddock has been through a lot!  She was bullied to the point where she considered taking her own life.  Thankfully, she did not.  She decided to use the challenges she faced for positive change.  Check out Cam's Story, brought to you by our friends, The Nuno Twins:

She started her own online anti-bullying community through Facebook, called Cam's Dare to be Different where she could reach out to other people dealing with bullying and give them a place to vent and find hope.  She advocates for anti-bullying, suicide prevention, and "just being who you are."

Bullying Lead To Thoughts of Suicide

In 4th grade, Camille was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Alopecia Areata, it caused her to lose her hair (including her eyebrows) which resulted in bullying from people at her school.  It got worse in middle school.  They called her names; like a freak, hairless cat, ugly, told her she was worthless.  Then they started calling her names online and they would text her and call her and say horrible things.  Camille fell into a deep depression that led to self-harm and thoughts of suicide.  She asked God, "Why, is this happening to me?"  She explains, "Suicide seemed like the only solution."

Then she wrote her suicide note.  She was home alone and had a bottle of pills she was ready to take.  Then the garage door opened and she heard her sister come into the house.  Her sister felt like something was wrong and that she needed to come home.

She asked Camille, "Are you, okay?" and it hit Camille...she couldn't leave her family.  Camille decided she couldn't go through with suicide.

Sharing Her Story Helped Others

She wanted to get better, but she didn't know how.  Camille then decided to start a Facebook page, Cam's Dare to Be Different because she knows everyone has something about them that makes them different.  On her page, she shared her story, vented, shared inspiring quotes and stories that helped her so that they could help and inspire others.

People started reaching out to her and it began the healing process for her.

She was a cheerleader at the time and the cheer gym asked her to share her story with a cheer team that was struggling with bullying, teasing, and bickering.  It was really hard for her to speak in front of those cheerleaders, but as she finished telling her story, she looked up and everyone had tears in their eyes.

Sharing Her Story Helped Her Heal

It hit her that she had the ability and power to do something good.  All of the pain and hurt she went through could be used for something beautiful.  The more she spoke at schools and events, the better she felt about herself because not only was she helping people but they were helping her to heal.

Have you been through something similar to Camille?  Is there a way you can use the pain and hurt you've experienced and turned it into something beautiful?  Let us know in the comments!

If you or a friend need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, for free confidential, 24/7 help. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world. For additional help, please visit the suicide prevention resource page.

For more information on bullying, here's a guide to understanding the types of bullying and cyberbullying and how to deal with it.

Every morning, I would wake up and ask myself, "Will I make it through today without crying?" One day, I got fed up with it all. With my sadness, with being ignored, everything. I wrote a suicide note, prepared to take my life. That's when everything flashed before my eyes. I should talk to someone, I thought.

I found this website, and was prepared to wait in a long line to speak to someone. As soon as I clicked the, "Chat now!" button, someone spoke to me. For the first time in a few years, someone spoke to me. I told them everything. They told me what I could do to help myself, and they prayed with me. I told them as soon as the chat was done, "Please know that you have saved a life." I would have taken my own life if it hadn't been for this. I made a deal with them. If I ever needed to talk, I would come on here, and talk, in exchange for them helping more and more people.

Thank you for the experience that I had. I know that suicide is not a thing to play around with, but from experience, it's something that can be stopped. Keep helping people!
~Adeline

If you or a friend need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, for free confidential, 24/7 help. For a list of crisis centers around the world and additional help, please visit the suicide prevention resource page.

Have you gotten close to writing a suicide note?  Do you have thoughts that you are not sure if you can make it through one more day?  TheHopeLine has a free eBook for you. 

The Enemy is Fighting to Defeat You

If you were not on this earth, life for everyone else who is still here would never be the same. When everything feels hopeless, it helps to be reminded of your true value to everyone in your life.

Last week I was at a coffee shop with the intention to write, but I made a friend instead. They shared their wisdom about life with me. This person shared parts of their testimony. Despite having a HARD life, they choose to remain positive. I shared about the first time that Satan had a spirit of death, depression, and suicidal thoughts over me.

How they responded to me is relevant to anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts past or present. I was told, "The enemy does not want you here because he knows how special you are, what you have done and are going to do here on this earth for the glory of God." That statement has so much truth in it.

Don't Lessen Your Mark on the World

If I had died the first time I desperately wanted to, I would not have been able to make the small mark on the world that I have made. I wouldn’t have the honor of helping those whom I have gotten the chance to help, and Lama Leah wouldn’t be what it is and my thoughts and wisdom would not have reached around the world. In my wildest dreams I never thought that my life would change for the better, but against my contrary belief, it did! I have been able to do some things and help some people that I would have never have thought was possible.

The Enemy is intimidated by those who are going to do great things for the kingdom! When he sees something great that comes from God his instincts are to destroy it and prevent it from doing its work. The most rewarding thing that you can do is overcome the devil through the blood of Christ. 

When I personally choose to fight for life, my depression did not end, nor was I always content with my decision. In the small moments of hope that’s when I knew that it was worth it. For me, it was giving a friend a hug who is hurting, snuggles with my dog, drinking peppermint tea, late nights focused on art projects, and writing a blog post that others enjoy or learn from.  Life is worth fighting for!

If you die from suicide, you take the mark that you have and will put on the world and make it significantly lighter because if you continue to live the possibilities that you have to make your mark are endless. The world will absolutely never be the same without you because you bring something unique and individual to the world. If you are suicidal, I am truly begging you to give this life another chance.

Choosing Life Is Worth It

Life may not become instantly better, but it can and will change eventually. God could be allowing you to go through this season as an opportunity to grow. Maybe God will use the season that you are in now to give you wisdom for a different season. I promise you that choosing life will be worth it!

Two years ago, in the car, when my best friend was pleading for me to fight, she told me this, “You can’t take your life, think about how great the day will be when you are able to say, ‘I made it through this hell and look where I am now.’ Things can only get better from here.” What she said was true. If you are suicidal from a bully in your life (any kind of bully, a physical person, depression, current life circumstances, the DEVIL, etc.), how will you be able to prove them wrong if you’re not alive to do so? From my experience, the rewarding part of various struggles in life is when you can overcome them.

Victory Is Possible

Those who have the hardest life become the strongest people. If you are currently suicidal, please be encouraged. The battles that you are in are worth fighting. It is impossible to achieve victory if you give up, and you can be victorious. I promise you that life will change, and when it does, you will be grateful that you did not act on your plan. Think about what a great day it will be when you are able to see the beauty in your hardships. Suicide eliminates the chances of life becoming better because it stops your journey in this world.

If you choose life let me, tell you this, it will not always be an easy battle to overcome, but it is worth every hardship and tear. Jesus is here to walk with you, by your side, every step of the way. Everything will be okay in the end, if it’s not okay now, remember it simply isn’t the end.

If you or a friend need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, for free confidential, 24/7 help. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world. For additional help, please visit the suicide prevention resource page.

Lama Leah is a blogger, and supporter of the arts, social change, and God’s chosen people. Read more from her on her blog: Lama-Leah!

Almost 10 years ago, I had first heard Dawson McAllister on the radio when I was on tour throughout Tennessee. I was only 16 or 17 at the time, now I'm 27. I have 2 beautiful daughters and in a much happier place. Mostly because of the conversation I had with Dawson McAllister on the air while I was driving and it was late. I was considering just turning the wheel and going off the road and doing whatever I could to just end it. But after the talk we had, I changed my mind.

I just wanted to thank you, my friend, Dawson. Without God, and without you... I wouldn't have my two beautiful girls to wake me up and drive me nuts every morning. And I wouldn't change that for the world. Thank you.
~Matt

If you are ready to give up and need someone to help you, connect with a HopeCoach. Or if this is an emergency and you or a friend needs support, right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for free confidential, 24/7 help. For a list of crisis centers around the world and additional help, please visit the suicide prevention resource page. 

We had a death in the family...my little sister Bailey passed away recently.

Can you relate to Katy's story about a death in the family?

She was everything to me, we would play together and do whatever we could think of. When Bailey started complaining her stomach hurt, my mom brought her to Children's Memorial Hospital. Bailey had a cancerous brain tumor and her appendix was taken out.

A year and a half later she passed away. I went back to public school and struggled becoming social and being happy. I was brought to TheHopeLine for guidance and support.

Morgan, who spoke with me listened to me for a hour and a half and helped me through.

I made a lot of new friends in the last couple of days! Bailey might not be with us today, but thanks to Morgan I know she is with me. I learned how to trust in the Lord and I know that Bailey isn't suffering anymore and she's having princess parties. Thank you TheHopeLine for believing in me and helping me become happy!

~Katy

Have you lost someone you love?  Does your heart ache with grief?

No matter what, in life three things are certain: we will be born, we will live life, and then we will die. Unfortunately, sometimes death plays a role way too early in life and we are left to bear the marks of that. Yet sometimes, life simply extinguishes due to time being done on this earth and it’s time to go home.

Some of us have lost friends, family members, co-workers and acquaintances to death in one form or fashion. Some have gone early and some have gone after living life to it’s fullest. Some by accident, some self-caused, some due to life circumstances, and some by the fortune of a life fully lived.

And I too, have lost friends. When I was in kindergarten or first grade, my friend TJ got hit by a train as he was crossing the tracks back to his home. And the way I dealt with it at that tender young age was to jump into my mother’s arms and cry and cry when she told me. It’s strange because at the age of six, I knew I would never get to play with TJ again and had an understanding of what death was. I used to think TJ got it lucky, he never had to experience the pains of life and the cruelty of the world. And yet I realize how selfish this was of me, because TJ didn’t live many of the experiences we will all have. His family never got to experience the joys of watching him play sports, graduate from high school, have a family, and all the other wonderful blessings that life has to offer.

During my freshman year of college, I was at a keg party when I got a call from one of my friends that our mutual friend Brian had passed away. The news hit me like a ton of bricks. I was 19 years old, and on my first spring break fixing to have a blast…. and this happens. I don’t remember a ton from that week, except numbing the pain with a bottle of Jack Daniels and sitting at a friend’s farmhouse playing cards, each of us remembering Brian in our own way. This was my first real experience with death where I had to process what happened and I didn’t know what to do, so I got drunk. And sure, it numbed the pain, the hurt. Man, did it hurt. Death very much became a reality after that and I even lost a couple more friends in college, but none of those instances really prepared me for what it was like to lose someone that was family. Someone that had the same blood running through their veins as mine.

A year ago today, I lost someone that close to me for the first time in my life. I consider that a huge blessing, being 28 years old and having never lost a family member, but inevitably, death caught up to me and took my first grandparent.

I remember getting the call from my dad a few days earlier that my grandpa, Jay Dee, had gone to the hospital with jaundice and they were running tests, and that things looked optimistic but were serious. My dad kept me in the loop and passed along my well wishes to him. I knew there was a ton of family there, so I didn’t call him that day, because honestly I figured between having to deal with the entire family and being in the hospital he was exhausted and I didn’t want to be the guy to call and wake him up while resting and recovering.

It was the single dumbest decision that has haunted me for the past year.

I woke up the next day and got to work a few minutes early and decided to check Facebook. The first thing I see is a note from my aunt that says her father has died. Instinctively I rushed to call my father because I knew why he hadn’t called and my first thought was, “I have to check on my dad.”  He told me how late it was, and I knew he was in the room as his father left this world, so it was something I have never held against him for not calling me that late in the night to tell me the news. I also knew how hard that phone call would have been, and bad news is something no one wants to deliver, so in a way, I’m thankful I found out the way I did rather than having to hear my dad say his father had passed away.

Perhaps the hardest thing for me has been the grieving process. It, honestly, was something I never did until a few weeks ago.

My dad had called to remind me to call my grandmother on my grandfather’s birthday and for the first time, it really sunk in he was gone. Even after a family Christmas where he wasn’t there, I never really took the time to grieve. I pushed it down. I didn’t know how to deal with it. For the past year, I’ve held onto nothing but regrets. Why didn’t I spend more time with him? Why didn’t I go out on the boat one last time? Why didn’t I call more often? Why didn’t I stay for dinner that one time? Why, why, why…all questions rooted in something to keep me from seeing the beauty and celebrating life.

I’m not going to lie, it does suck having those regrets, because they were things I could have done. But, no matter what, there’s always going to be something we could have done or wanted to do. We’re never going to escape the ways we think, and regret is part of that.

But what about the good? There seems to come a time, when we lose interest in the bad memories, and instead see the good. I’m a people pleaser and hate disappointment, and I realized I had lived in the disappointment for far too long, mostly because I thought I deserved it. For every phone call I didn’t make or dinner I didn’t stay for that barraged my thought process there were also golf outings, fishing together on the lake, great conversations, surprise visits to graduations, and so many great moments that outweighed the regrets that ultimately brought me so much peace.

I was talking to my mom the other day about all of this, and wanting to check on my dad as well during this time. We ended up sharing so many laughs that evening remembering the things grandpa did and so many smiles at the man he was and the things he instilled in all of his children and grandchildren. To work hard, to take care of others, to love God, to treat others better than ourselves, and that kindness is better than anger. We also both remarked how crazy it seems that he’s been gone a year, when it feels like he’s barely been gone a day. I honestly see that as something so beautiful, that while my grandpa has been gone for a year, it feels more like I’m just on a delay until I see him again. There’s more beauty in that view of death than taking the long road of regret.

We have so many choices when dealing with grief. We all deal with it differently too. My hope and prayer for anybody reading this is that we cling to the goodness that was life and fondly remember the great times.

So this is for anyone dealing with grief and for everyone that will deal with grief upon losing someone we love. Do not live in the regret, but instead, see the beauty of times you have spent with that person and cling hard to those. They can literally be the difference in a years worth of pain or a years worth of happiness. We aren’t meant to live unhappy, and it’s ok to deal with the sadness of death. It sucks and it hurts. But no matter what, you’ve got to see the beauty in life, no matter how it was lost. I’ve lost friends to suicide, car wrecks, and cancer. None of those are pretty, but their lives were all beautiful and for that I remember that they brought greatness, if only for a brief moment, in a world that can be full of ugliness. I choose to remember TJ and his smile, Christian and his goofiness and love, Brian and his unshakable faith and leading me to Jesus, Justin and his love for wanting to tell people about the real love of Jesus, Jack, Kelli, Ted, Erin, and many others that for a blip on my life’s radar, brought me beauty, joy, laughter, and strength, all things I can choose to cling to when I remember them.

This is the end of my grieving process. I choose to remember my grandpa as a man who loved my grandmother to his last day, who impacted countless lives through coaching and teaching, and who instilled a love and reverence for God in his children and grandchildren. I’ll never be able to watch a basketball game without seeing some player with his elbow out and hear the words of my grandpa telling me “Get your elbow in”. I’ll never go on a lake or play a game of golf without having fond memories of him and the goodness he brought into my life and those of everyone he impacted.

I know I’ll see you again Grandpa, but until that time comes, thanks for all you did for me and for helping form the man I am today. I’ll always remember the great times and the love you so selflessly gave to me, no matter what. I’ll never forget you. I miss you. I love you.

Do you have good memories of the times you spent with the people you loved and then lost?  Share them with TheHopeLine in the comments below!

Want to know more about a God who brings peace in times of loss? Lean More About God

We also have a partner, GriefShare, who is a caring support group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life's most difficult experiences.

Guest blog is written by Jordan Zehr. He is part of HeartSupport's blog team!  Jordan Zehr's first love is God and then his family and friends. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2009 and is a self-proclaimed fanatic. He enjoys writing, music, and anything to do with baseball.

Do You Believe There Can Be Beauty in Pain?

The choices that we make every day don’t (always) solely affect us individually. They can affect our friends, children, spouses, the planet, and sometimes strangers who live across town or strangers across the world. Newton’s third law states that for every action there is an equal or opposite reaction and this can apply to many aspects of life. Some of these reactions can be positive; while some have negative consequences.

In life we all experience joys and sorrows. Some are fortunate to have few sorrows (at least from the outside), while others are not as blessed. Some are born into one parent, one small paycheck, and households where abuse lingers in the walls. Children grow up and make their own choices and write their own stories and testimonies. They live life from a new perspective because for the first time the lifestyle that they choose is in their hands. I’m not referring to social class but I’m referring to the fact that they can choose a lifestyle of love or hate.

Their own children will either grow up being cared for in every way, or they become victims.

When considering religion, the question is often asked, “How can I believe in a God who let’s horrible events happen?” I have asked myself this question in the midst of the storm when God seems to be so far away. I have walked through my fair share of storms. I have pondered the lie, “How can anything good happen through my brokenness? I think that God turned His head away the times I was a victim.”

God has been teaching me about this lie that I believed for years. Yes, I was a follower of Christ but I did not understand and am still learning just how God works and there is beauty in the utter brokenness, sorrow, and pain of life. The first time I had a glimpse of how my brokenness has beauty in it was about two years ago. I was with my best friend at a church gathering and one of our other friends came in and she was hysterical. About anything bad that could’ve happened to a 16-year-old girl had and her day was miserable; it was one of those days that had pushed her over the edge. She had expressed to us that she was suicidal. All three of us went into the bathroom to talk things out. As we talked, I learned that this girl and I had similarities in our stories and I did the best I possibly could to encourage her that things could and will become better. I’m not sure how much my words would have meant to her if I hadn’t walked through storms. That night, I started to see a small bit of beauty through my pain. Yet I have had a hard time believing that God was with me through every season and that He has never turned His face on war, poverty, world hunger, sexual assault, and abuse.

I’ve been learning that beauty in the pain can be as simple as being able to have empathy towards others who have been in the same situation as you. In my own walk, the times that I’ve had the most emotional healing were not when I was sitting in a therapist's office (I’m not saying that therapy isn’t important because it is) or sitting in church. God has done the most healing when I’m doing something as simple as having coffee with a fellow Christian and they are sharing their own story of walking in the storm. I have a connection of pain with them when they share about life after the storm.

• It’s the priceless feeling of knowing, “I’m not alone.”

Yes, we have Jesus but sometimes we need a friend here on earth to share our journey with. Having the honor to be a friend guiding and loving on the one who is still walking in the exact same rainstorm that you were once in is beautiful. THAT is when I know that God had never left me. I am beyond grateful for those He has given me to hold my hand while I’ve been in and out of the storms we have all walked through.

Newton’s third law states that for every action there’s an equal or opposite reaction. As we walk this life and deal with more storms than sunny days, how are you going to react? When others hurt you, you have the choice to do the same to someone else. Or you can use that exact pain that you have to empower you to help someone who has gone through the same or similar experience. THIS is how you can find beauty in pain.

Lama Leah is a blogger, and supporter of the arts, social change, and God’s chosen people. Read more from her on her blog: Lama-Leah!

If you have been through some struggles and were able to find beauty in the pain, you can share your story to help and encourage others who might be struggling. SHARE YOUR STORY!

My name is Jasman and this is my story:

When I was about 7 years old my parents got divorced, but as far back as I can remember they were always fighting and arguing. I started to self-harm when I was 12.  I thought that there was no one out there who cared, knew what I was going through, even knew I was alive.

I was going through a hard breakup, and instead of cutting like I normally would I decided to take a notebook and write in it. Now instead of cutting, I grab my notebook, and I write in it. One day I realized:

• I have friends who care about me.
• My mom and dad care about me.
• My grandparents care about me.

I had a blade in my pocket one day, and a friend of mine emailed the school counselor, I got kind of upset at her, but then later that day, when I was home, I realized, that if she would not have emailed the school counselor, I would of cut myself really badly.

"People out there care about you, even though you may not realize it."

I wrote this in one of my notebooks today, "Blades help me release the monster on the inside, they can cut deep, or they can just skim the skin, they have always been there through all the rough times, but what I didn't realize is that so were my friends. I have friends that have always been there. They didn't have to make a single scar on my body, like a blade, they helped let the monster out through my words, not my cuts. Cuts make scars, then people ask 'How did you get those?' then you have to make up some lie, so you do not get in trouble." ~Jasman