When Your Eyes Are Blurred with Tears, God Will Help You See: Dave Pittman & Briana Domenica
Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith
Jesus Calling
4.6 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 2 September 2021
⏱️ 32 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
*Trigger Warning*
This episode contains content that talks about suicide and self-harm that could be disturbing to some listeners.
Many of us could never imagine that we would ever go through a dark 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 on to hope any longer. During Suicide Prevention week, we’ll speak to two guests whose lives have been directly altered by depression and suicide, American Idol alumnus Dave Pittman & singer Briana Domenica. Dave shares how he was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at an early age, how being “different” and not understanding why caused problems at school, and how the hopelessness he felt sent him spiraling down a dark path toward taking his own life. Briana Domenica recounts her own struggles with suicidal tendencies and how she has tried to turn her pain into purpose by pouring her heart and soul into music—hoping she can uplift others and encourage an environment of positivity and love.
Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
National Suicide Prevetion Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Past interview: Chad Robichaux
Upcoming interview: Larry Fleet
“Different Kind of Love” album
Interview Quotes:
“I was more afraid of living through that again than I was of dying.” - Dave Pittman, on being bullied as a child with Tourette Syndrome
”My mom—both my parents—just drilled into my head and my heart the importance of accepting yourself for who you are, and not just who you are, but who you are in Christ, your identity, who you've become in your walk with Christ.” - Dave Pittman
“I think it's okay to ask why, even now, because Job did. We look at Job in the Bible, he asked God, ‘Why? Why is this happening to me?’” - Dave Pittman
“Anyone can accept something they have to do, but when you can embrace something that you get to do, it’s different. It changes things.” - Dave Pittman
“I dealt with this hopelessness for four years until my aunt Linda noticed the cuts on my wrist. She kissed them and she told me I was worthy, loved, and a child of God. That conversation not only saved my life, but it encouraged me to get the help that I so desperately needed.” - Briana Domenica
“I think simply starting a dialog can combat that [mental health] stigma because unless we start a dialog, we will never see change. And I want people to know that they are not alone. There is help, but most importantly, there is hope. And I love this acronym for hope: hold on, pain ends.” - Briana Domenica
“Everyone's journeys are different, but moving from a place of darkness to light is possible. All you need is a little faith, even if it's the size of a mustard seed. Take it one day at a time, speak up, and reach out, because help and hope are available.” - Briana Domenica
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Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel:
Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH
Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ
What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Coming in October, an all-new 365-day prayer devotional from Sarah Young, |
| 0:05.0 | scripture-based daily prayers to bring you closer to him, free sample at jesuscalling.com. |
| 0:12.6 | This episode contains content that talks about suicide and self-harm that could be disturbing to some listeners. |
| 0:22.1 | As I grew in my faith and my understanding and knowledge of God, the Lord, and scripture, |
| 0:30.6 | I began to understand and realize that we may not understand what God, |
| 0:36.8 | what His plan is for our life, but we can trust that He's in control and that we're not. |
| 0:44.0 | And I think, you know, for me, it was realizing that my identity is not in Tourette's syndrome, |
| 0:51.6 | or ADD or OCD, but it's in Jesus Christ alone. |
| 0:56.7 | Welcome to the jesuscalling podcast. Many of us could never imagine that we would ever go through a |
| 1:02.2 | time so dark and so hopeless that we would consider taking our own lives. Yet so many people who have |
| 1:08.2 | experienced deep depression know what it feels like when their minds can't seem to grasp onto hope |
| 1:13.0 | any longer. During Suicide Prevention Week, we want to talk to some people who share what it's |
| 1:18.3 | like to deal with depression and thoughts of suicide and encourage us all that there is hope, |
| 1:24.4 | even when we can't see it. We're honored to share the stories of American Idol alumnus, |
| 1:29.4 | Dave Pitman, and singer, Brianna Domenica. |
| 1:35.6 | First up, we'll hear from Dave Pitman, a budding Christian musician and an American Idol |
| 1:40.2 | finalist who was only nine years old when he was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome, |
| 1:44.3 | a condition that can cause uncontrollable ticks and vocal sounds. Before his diagnosis, |
| 1:49.4 | Dave's classmates didn't understand what made Dave different and several responded by making |
| 1:53.8 | fun of him or bullying him. Amid his dread of facing another school year feeling different |
| 1:58.3 | and alone, Dave shares about the moment that he was more afraid of living than he was of dying |
| 2:03.2 | and what ultimately led him to embrace his condition. |
... |
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