LISTEN TO THE DEVOTIONAL
What keeps a person alive when they’ve decided they don’t want to be?
It’s a question more young people are facing than you might think. Globally, as many as 1 in 5 have seriously considered ending their lives.[1] Elena, a young woman in Russia, tried to end her life four times. “I haven’t told anybody this,” she confided, “but I want to try again.” Elena grew up in a very difficult home, and she was ready to give up.
One night, Elena was listening to an online broadcast that described the God of the Bible in a way she’d never heard before. This was a God who is good, who is all-powerful, who promises to hold firm those who come to Him for refuge and offers hope.
The Bible pictures this hope as an anchor. It says, “Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls” (Hebrews 6:18b-19).
Elena explained, “I’ve wanted to become a follower of Jesus for a long time. I just didn’t know what to do.” She didn’t have to figure it out alone. She called the broadcaster for prayer, and they helped her find a church she could attend.
For all who feel adrift today there is an anchor for your soul in times of trouble. The Bible book of Psalms says, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1). The same God who found Elena offers fresh hope for your life—and a reason to live.
You can make a difference for others like Elena by sending devotionals like this to millions around the world in their own language. Give a gift today at guidelines.org.
[1] Van Meter, Anna R., Ellen A. Knowles, and Emily H. Mintz. “Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: International Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation and Attempt in Youth.” Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 62, no. 9 (September 2023): 973–986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2022.07.867.
