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September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Jay Lowder understands what it can feel like to be in a pit of darkness. He also knows what it's like to be redeemed and to find God.
He grew up in a Christian home and made the decision to follow Christ at an early age.
"I just kind of grew up thinking I was a believer, but I wasn't, " Jay explained. "When I turned 18 and went off to college and my parents weren't around to make me go to church, I completely evaporated from the Christian scene."
This lead Jay down a path of destruction that eventually led to his life falling apart.
"I was 21 years of age. I had lost my job. My girlfriend and I had broken up and I lost my vehicle because of the way I was living my life," said Jay. "I moved in with my buddy. We didn't have much money. We had no furniture. I was sleeping on a sofa and because of the way I was living my life, I just sank into a deep depression."
Eventually he hit rock bottom and contemplated suicide.
"I decided I was going to end my life. I went back to the sofa and pulled out the pistol I owned and put my finger on the trigger,"said Jay. "Just as I was about to pull the trigger, someone pulled up in my driveway. It was my roommate. I raced back to the sofa, turned on the t.v. and put the pistol away."
Jay began questioning whether or not that was a sign that God was trying to rescue him.
"Sometime later I went to my parents house. I washing clothes and my mom called me into the den where I caught the end of a commercial where there was a guy coming to our city that had attempted suicide. I decided to attend."
"The night I got there. He didn't say anything about his story. That's the reason I went. That's the night I met Christ."
Jay is now the founder of Jay Lowder Harvest Ministries. He is now using his story to help others that are struggling with everyday life.
Today on Connections, Jay shares his powerful story of transformation.
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call the Canadian Suicide Prevention line at 1-833-456-4566. You can also go online to get help at https://talksuicide.ca/.