Many who come to the doors of our mission are struggling in some way, needing a guiding hand to bring them out of the darkness. They come here because they have reached rock bottom, and Star of Hope provides them the tools to get back on their feet. For Michael, his struggle with addiction and depression took him to a dark place in his life, but through Star of Hope, he finally found his purpose. This is his story:
I grew up with divorced parents which meant that my sister and I frequently moved around and attended various schools. The constant moving around led me to lash out as a teen, and I got involved with the wrong crowd. I started doing drugs and drinking alcohol, developing a substance abuse problem.
Eventually, my addiction got the best of me, and I found myself living in my truck. Facing homelessness and grappling with intense emotional pain, I made a deliberate, albeit unsuccessful attempt to take my own life. After being discharged from the hospital, I broke down in tears and called Star of Hope.
Being at Star of Hope has undeniably changed my life. Here, I have learned that with God, I can conquer my depression and that having a close, intimate relationship with the Lord can provide a deep sense of peace, purpose and fulfillment. Thanks to the classes and program, I’ve learned how to be patient and humble. Although my connection with Christ is far from perfect, I will continue to pray and ask God for guidance.
I know that some days may be more difficult than others, but I hope that, like Michael, you find peace. As we enter Mental Health Awareness month, I pray you remember that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Thank you for allowing Michael to conquer his mind, find peace and develop a close relationship with the Lord!