When Life Hurts: There Is a Third Option

Sometimes life hits in ways that leave you breathless. You try to keep going, but the weight of pain, confusion, and disappointment makes it hard to see hope ahead. I was reminded recently of how fragile life really is and how many people are fighting silent battles we may never see.

The truth is, we have to learn to recognize the quiet signs, the ones that are easy to overlook. A shift in mood, isolation, fatigue, or a sudden change in behavior can all be silent cries for help. It was a wake-up call for me to be more mindful of emotional well-being, not just my own, but my husband’s and my family’s too. We cannot afford to assume people are fine just because they smile.

The enemy is deceptive. He whispers lies that sound like truth: “You will never get better.” “This is too much.” “There is no way out.” Those lies are meant to steal hope, and once hope is gone, people begin to believe there are only two choices, suffer in silence or escape through death. But that is not true.

There is a third option.

Option Three: Heal.

Healing means facing what hurts with God instead of hiding it alone. It means allowing Him to meet you in the pain and remind you that your story is not over. Healing takes courage, honesty, and faith, but it leads to freedom.

Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). The enemy wants to end life, but Jesus offers it abundantly.

If you are reading this and you feel like you have reached your breaking point, please hold on. You are not alone. There is still purpose in your breath, and God still has plans for your life.

Choose life. Choose hope. Choose healing.

If you or someone you love is struggling to hold on, please do not stay silent. Reach out. Call a friend, a pastor, a counselor, or someone you trust. You were never meant to fight those voices alone. The thoughts that tell you you are worthless or that there is no way out are lies from the enemy. You are loved, you are needed, and your life still has purpose. God can meet you in the middle of the pain and lead you toward healing. There is always hope, and there is always help.