Rapper JayLafé recently wrote an article about depression‏. Check it out.

Since Monday, September 10th was National Suicide Prevention and Awareness day, I wanted to share a story of deliverance. This story is my own story, a testimony of God’s power to break through the ice-cold grip of depression. And yet, this story is the story of countless millions like me who have traveled a twisting journey of masks, telling people how “fine” you’re doing, losing sight of who you are and more importantly whose you are. Perhaps you can find yourself in this story. Perhaps you know someone who can. Perhaps you’ve experienced God’s deliverance yourself, or perhaps you’re on the way. On this day of awareness concerning the issue of depression and suicide, consider the many around you who live in bondage, and pray for deliverance.

Here’s my story.

I’m not about to rap a verse, I'ma give you real life
lemme ask, do you know what depression feels like?
because I know what it’s like saying “It’ll be alright”
when you really don’t know if it’ll be alright
when all these situations have hit you
and facing your issues just gets you anxious
you just run away from everything and shut yourself off
sealed tight ‘til you can’t see light
and nothing ever feels right
you know how that feels, right?
You just can’t fit in and you start to realize
that no matter what you do you will never be liked
and of course that hurts, kinda makes you feel useless
so you escape into a movie or some music
nobody seems to get it and you can’t forget it
your issue is killing you and you just might let it
to your credit, you’ve been begging for help
but it seems you have no voice
so now it seems you have no choice
to put it to an end

Don’t end it now, even in the pain
You don’t have to do this, it’s not the only way
He’s got a plan, just rest like a baby in the Savior’s arms

I remember when I just couldn’t take it
I felt forsaken, my heart was vacant, and I was achin’
tried to look like I had it together but I was fakin’
I put on a happy face but inside I was breakin’
that night, I lay in bed and cried from all the pain stacked
I was longing for the hope I thought I couldn’t gain back
so I thought that I should die, as if it was a plain fact
I got up and started headin’ straight for the train tracks
heart throbbin’, I was sobbin’, felt confused
and like I didn’t have a purpose
I just felt like a nuisance
felt less of a human, felt like I didn’t have true friends
I walked that lonely death path
I could see my breath pass in the cold night, looked at the stars one last time
frozen in the moonlight, looked up and asked why
tears of ice, I cried for what I thought was the last time
then the Holy Spirit came and started letting the truth in

(chorus)

If you’re going through depression, if you’re going through pain
If you don’t think you’ll ever see the daylight again
if you think you’re worth nothing because you don’t fit in
brother or sister, I feel you, I’ve been where you’ve been
I’ve walked in your shoes, I’ve felt broken apart
I’ve cried myself to sleep, couldn’t dream of a fresh start
but I’m telling you if your life’s a wreck, child
the first things is you and God need to be reconciled
that’s why I gave my life to Christ, His blood makes me pure
so that I can be with the Father, forever and ever more
I’m made right with God, my sins have been cleansed
my identity is in the fact that God and I are now friends
He’s a very present help in my times of trouble
His Spirit, His Word, His church help me when I crumble
so when I’m broken down, I remember
I’m a baby in His arms, and I will live with Him forever!

You can hear this story here (I’ll be releasing a music video soon): To an End

You can follow JayLafé on Twitter @jaylafe