Destined To Live, Despite Me: Biblical Truths For Suicide Survivors

By Yolanda Shanks

In the U.S. alone, it is estimated that 4.6 million people have attempted to commit suicide. Destined to Live, Despite Me is a powerful resource that offers biblical solutions for the painful issues suicide survivors face. Escape the shadows from your past and begin to build a new life according to God’s design today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Yolanda Shanks
• Release date: Sep 13, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452316352

Yolanda Shanks

Yolanda A. Shanks is a Bible study facilitator and small group leader. Having survived a suicide attempt early in life, Yolanda writes with warmth and compassion offering scriptural truths and practical solutions for the many painful issues attempted suicide survivors face. Yolanda has an amazing family and a rewarding career.

Book preview

Destined to Live, Despite Me

Biblical Truths for Suicide Survivors

by

Yolanda Shanks

Smashwords Edition

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Published by:

Yolanda Shanks on Smashwords

Destined to Live, Despite Me

Biblical Truths for Suicide Survivors

Copyright © 2010 by Yolanda Shanks

Believers Press Services: www.believerspress.com

Cover design: Terry Dugan

Interior design and typeset: Katherine Lloyd

Marketing: Kimberly Brock

Marketing Book Consultant: Barb Lilland

Editor: Paul Hawley

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, King James Version.

This book includes information from many sources and gathered from many personal experiences. It is published for general reference and not intended to be a substitute for independent verification by readers when necessary and appropriate. This book is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor publisher is engaged in rendering any medical or psychological advice.

One dollar from the sale of each copy of Destined to Live, Despite Me will be donated to the American Association of Suicidology’s (AAS) One Million Voices Campaign, designed to raise one million dollars, one dollar at a time, toward the prevention of suicide. Learn more at www.suicidology.org. The American Association of Suicidology does not directly endorse the contents of Destined to Live, Despite Me.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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Endorsements for Destined to Live, Despite Me

This is the time for a book such as this! Destined to Live, Despite Me shares with the reader Mrs. Shank’s story of why and how she survived the attempt of suicide during her teenage years. Further, Yolanda expresses to the readers how she, as well as, they must toss the cookie-cutter image of the face of suicide. Many more people within our church communities need to be as open, focused, and passionate about assisting persons within our congregation who wrestle with thoughts of taking their own lives. This is a definitive word with biblical principles for attempted suicide survivors. —Donald G. Burgs, Jr. , Senior Pastor, Alief Baptist Church, Houston, TX

Yolanda Shank’s passion comes through loud and clear as she challenges those who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide with a message of hope. Destined to Live, Despite Me will no doubt prove to be an invaluable resource of assurance and confident hope—that yes, you can survive life, love, family and friendship and make it because you have been destined to live. —Eric Cason, Pastor, The Tabernacle Church, Houston, TX

Enlightening and inspirational. This journey from embracing the edge of death to its very brink, to embracing and experiencing the love of God, is truly an inspiring story.

—M. V. Ellison, Pastor, Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Richmond, TX

I thank God that He destined you to live to share your story. You were left here as a living testimony to let others know that God can heal any pain. God’s continued blessings on your life. —Nancy Brown, Director of Education/Women Ministry Leader, Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Richmond, TX

Powerful! People often say that the truth hurts. The author has candidly shared the true essence of her thoughts and actions. At every page’s turn, the reader is continuously led to one simple, yet divine truth—Jesus Christ is Lord, and He alone is the source of our salvation! Jesus says, I am the way, the truth and the life. Even though the truth often hurts, it is the Truth that makes us free! —Charles Banks, Minister, Alief Baptist Church Houston, TX

Destined to Live is destined to become a life-altering encounter for those who embrace this piece of work. It is written from the heart and valiantly declares and offers Jesus as the solution for life’s struggle. For those who share this writer’s story: I personally believe you will be blessed. —Henry Thomas, Jr. , Pastor, True Fellowship Baptist Church, Katy, TX

Destined to Live, Despite Me is a blueprint for the journey from life’s breaking point to the victorious life in Jesus Christ. God sometimes allows people to have extreme experiences and then live to talk about it so they can be a blessing to others. Yolanda takes her experiences and uses them to guide, direct, and strengthen those of us who find ourselves dangling on the edge. —Ralph Fairley, Pastor, Fort Bend Bible Fellowship, Missouri City, TX

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Destined to Live, Despite Me

Biblical Truths for Suicide Survivors

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To any Zacchaeus out there, climbing your sycamore tree, trying to steal only a glimpse of Jesus: Make haste, and come down, and receive Him joyfully!

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Contents

Introduction

Suicide Thought #1: I Wish That I Was Dead And That I Had Never Been Born!

Suicide Thought #2: No One Truly Cares About Me!

Suicide Thought #3: I Feel So All Alone!

Suicide Thought #4: Ending My Life Will Stop All this Hurt, Pain, Embarrassment, and Shame!

Suicide Thought #5: Life is Too Hard and Suicide is My Only Escape!

Suicide Thought #6: I Will Have the Final Say in the Matter!

A New Look at Life!

Author’s Testimony

Author’s Closing

Author’s Closing Prayer

Warning Signs for Suicide Prevention

Resources for Assistance

Recommended Reading

Resources for Information

Acknowledgments

About the Author

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Introduction

This book is written for individuals who have previously thought of suicide, made plans to commit suicide, or actually attempted suicide (and, I thank God, have failed!). If you know of someone who has tried to commit suicide, or you are seeking to prevent thoughts of suicide from entering the mind of a loved one or a friend, or if someone that you know simply needs spiritual direction on this journey—whatever your story is, I am certain that this book will assist absolutely anyone and everyone who simply needs spiritual direction for purposeful and meaningful living! My goal in writing this book is to say that I am happy that you are living right now, and I would like to help you broaden your knowledge, declare your acceptance, and establish or reestablish an intimate relationship with the God of the Bible! I was led to share with you—through the pages of this book—hope for deliberately living.

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I am a suicide attempt survivor, and I understand completely how the trials and tribulations of this life can rage so severe at times that we might experience the emotion of despair (a feeling of hopelessness) at life itself. Because of my previous attempt as a teenager to end my life, as a young adult, when I sought to pick up the pieces and move forward, I struggled with self-worth and with feelings of guilt and shame, which all affected how I approached life.

A Quest for Truth

There were questions for which I still needed answers in order to live free from my past. You too may have some of these same questions as well: Who truly am I? Why me? Where does pain come from? What’s next? What’s needed to rebuild my life from here? Who is God? Does God still love me? Do I deserve love? What is hope? What is faith? What is salvation? What am I being saved from? How can I shake the embarrassment, guilt, and shame from my past?

All these questions are well worth your research and discovery. Many times, after a struggle, we have identified and fixed the underlying issues and eliminated suicide as an available alternative. Still, although we have made a conscious decision to live a meaningful life, possibly we have not mapped out a plan to deal with future negative events that will arise.

Therefore, since God has healed and restructured my life, I now sit writing to you because I am convinced that all life has been ordained by the will of God, and it is His desire that we live and not die separated from Him, and live in the abundance of joy, which is only found in salvation through Jesus Christ! I can testify that the answers to these questions are exactly what you need to build or rebuild your spiritual foundation.

We will cover together just how much God loves you and how much God seeks to walk in a daily intimate relationship with you. You will learn that you can claim true joy, peace, hope, confidence, and freedom through the person of Jesus Christ for meaningful and deliberate living!

I will share with you the richness I have found through walking in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God! No longer do I seek the affirmation of others to confirm who I am. No longer do the shadows of my past actions burden me with embarrassment, guilt, and shame. No longer am I carrying baggage that weighs me down emotionally; no longer is there a void longing to be filled in my soul. Truly I have been set free, and you can be too!

Preparation for Deliberate Living

Let’s use the metaphor of a hurricane advisory. If we live in area prone to seasonal hurricanes, it is easy to wait until our local news channels and radio stations inform the general public that a hurricane is headed in our direction before we stock our hurricane kit. However, when the time comes, we may find that all of the store shelves are completely empty and that we are not prepared. Such unpreparedness can lead to unnecessary anxiety, despair, a lack of resources, and even danger during the turbulent time ahead.

On the other hand, creating and carrying out a disaster plan between hurricane seasons means you will be prepared in advance. Purchasing all needed equipment, obtaining insurance, stocking extra food and water, taking time to map out an evacuation route, storing sensitive documents, and so on—careful preparation gives us workable options, not if but when the next hurricane comes!

Choosing to deliberately live a meaningful life is just like preparing for that hurricane. Our belief system must already be established on a solid foundation of hope in God, through the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. Such hope will keep us rooted despite any future trials and tribulations (hurricanes) that we will encounter on this journey called life. Such hope reaffirms our self-worth, enables us to embrace the storms of life, establishes the possibility of a fulfilled life, and settles where we will spend eternity—either in heaven or in hell.

With that said, once you have obtained the medical or counseling assistance you need, this book is for you! Here we will focus on rebuilding your spiritual belief system, since your counseling has brought you to a point of