Coming in October, an all-new 365-day prayer devotional from Sarah Young,

scripture-based daily prayers to bring you closer to him, free sample at jesuscalling.com.

This episode contains content that talks about suicide and self-harm that could be disturbing to some listeners.

As I grew in my faith and my understanding and knowledge of God, the Lord, and scripture,

I began to understand and realize that we may not understand what God,

what His plan is for our life, but we can trust that He's in control and that we're not.

And I think, you know, for me, it was realizing that my identity is not in Tourette's syndrome,

or ADD or OCD, but it's in Jesus Christ alone.

Welcome to the jesuscalling podcast. Many of us could never imagine that we would ever go through a

time so dark and so hopeless that we would consider taking our own lives. Yet so many people who have

experienced deep depression know what it feels like when their minds can't seem to grasp onto hope

any longer. During Suicide Prevention Week, we want to talk to some people who share what it's

like to deal with depression and thoughts of suicide and encourage us all that there is hope,

even when we can't see it. We're honored to share the stories of American Idol alumnus,

Dave Pitman, and singer, Brianna Domenica.

First up, we'll hear from Dave Pitman, a budding Christian musician and an American Idol

finalist who was only nine years old when he was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome,

a condition that can cause uncontrollable ticks and vocal sounds. Before his diagnosis,

Dave's classmates didn't understand what made Dave different and several responded by making

fun of him or bullying him. Amid his dread of facing another school year feeling different

and alone, Dave shares about the moment that he was more afraid of living than he was of dying

and what ultimately led him to embrace his condition.

...