There were nights when silence pressed so heavy against my chest that breathing felt like work. In those moments, my life leaned left of center, tipping between faith that held me steady and thoughts that threatened to undo me. There were mornings when rising from bed felt impossible, and days when shame pressed down so hard it seemed I could never be enough. Those moments carried whispers that I was a burden, that I had failed, that the world might be better without me. They were lies, but lies can be convincing when your heart is tired and your spirit is worn thin.

Even then, something quiet was holding me. Looking back, I see those thoughts for what they were: intrusive lies that bent truth into something sharp. They were left of center, not the whole story, even though they tried to tell me they were. And woven through even those darkest hours was mercy, a steady light in left of center places, holding me when I could not hold myself. God did not turn His face from me, even when I questioned whether He cared at all. His grace found me in the cracks where I thought I was beyond repair.

That is why, as September brings Suicide Prevention Month, I cannot help but think of the people who sit in that same place of quiet despair, convinced no one sees them. Some of the strongest among us are the ones who hide their battles best. They smile, they show up, they carry on, while inside they are unraveling. Not everyone cries for help in the same way, but sometimes there are gentle clues if we are willing to look closer. Sometimes it shows in a withdrawal from people and places once loved. Sometimes it is a shift in sleep or energy. Sometimes it sounds like words that feel too much like goodbyes, or a sudden calm that does not belong after a season of struggle. These are not always obvious, and sometimes they are hidden behind laughter, but they are worth noticing. And in those moments, we are called to be that light in someone else’s left of center place.

I know this because I was once that girl, young and overwhelmed, certain she had failed. I want to tell her that her survival would become her testimony, that she would not only live but thrive, and that one day her brokenness would help others carry their own. Healing did not come in a sweeping moment but in small, quiet ways: a friend who noticed. A pastor who prayed. A husband who refused to give up on me, who held on when I could not hold myself. And a child’s laughter that pulled me back to the present. Each one was a flicker of light in my own left of center places.

Remembering those moments reminds me to speak now to anyone who might be there. If you are in that left of center place, know this: your story is not finished. Your presence matters. The world is better with you in it. And if you love someone who might be silently fighting, do not underestimate the power of simply showing up. Ask the second question after they say “I’m fine.” Sit with them in the quiet. You do not have to fix what feels unfixable, only help carry the weight so they are not carrying it alone. In doing so, you become the light in their left of center place.

And this is the heart of Suicide Prevention Month: remembering, reaching out, and reminding one another that hope is still here. May we keep speaking light into silence. May we keep reminding one another that no thought, however dark, has the final word.

Love still does.

Grace still does.

And the hand of God is steady, even in the left of center places where we cannot be.

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If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please know that you are not alone. Help is available, and reaching out can be the first step toward healing.

– National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (U.S.): Dial 988 for free, confidential support available 24/7.

– Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

– Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255 for specialized support for veterans and their loved ones.

– Local Hospitals and Health Providers: Many communities have crisis response teams or mental health hotlines available regionally.

– If you are outside the United States, please look for crisis hotlines available in your country. You can find international hotlines at https://findahelpline.com.