The Moment He Let Go
At 19 years old, Kevin Hines walked onto the Golden Gate Bridge.
From the outside, he looked like anyone else.
Just another person walking across one of the most beautiful landmarks in the world.
But inside…
he was fighting a battle no one could see.
Thoughts that wouldn’t stop.
Pain that wouldn’t go away.
A weight that felt heavier every single day.
He later said that all he wanted…
was relief.
He stood there for a moment.
Cars passing.
Wind moving.
Life continuing all around him.
And yet, inside his mind, everything felt still.
Dark.
Final.
Then, in a single moment…
he climbed over the railing.
And he let go.
As his body fell through the air, something happened that he would later share with the world.
The moment his hands left the rail…
he didn’t feel peace.
He felt regret.
Instant.
Overwhelming.
Clear.
Every part of him wanted to live.
But it was too late to stop the fall.
He hit the water.
The impact should have ended his life.
For most people, it does.
But somehow… he survived.
Severely injured.
Broken.
But alive.
Rescue teams pulled him from the water.
Doctors worked to save him.
And against all odds…
he lived.
Kevin Hines would later say something that has echoed around the world:
Every person he has met who survived a suicide attempt…
said they were glad they lived.
Think about that.
In the darkest moment of their life…
when everything felt final…
once they survived…
they were grateful they did.
Kevin’s life did not end that day.
It began again.
He went on to speak to millions of people.
To tell the truth many are afraid to say out loud:
That moment… that feeling…
it passes.
But the decision to end your life…
does not.
The Reality We Cannot Ignore
This is not a rare story.
This is happening every day.
- Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide
- In the U.S., millions of people struggle with suicidal thoughts each year
- Many of them look completely normal on the outside
Behind smiles…
behind conversations…
behind everyday life…
there are people fighting battles no one else can see.
If You Are In That Place Right Now
If you are reading this and your mind feels heavy…
If you feel like giving up…
If the darkness feels louder than everything else…
Please stop for a moment.
Breathe.
And hear this:
That feeling is real…
but it is not permanent.
Your mind can lie to you in those moments.
It can make temporary pain feel like a permanent ending.
But it’s not.
Reach Out — Right Now
You do not have to go through this alone.
Please reach out to someone:
- Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
- Talk to someone you trust
- Or visit RestoredLifeAfter.com
And Randy, you can include this directly:
If you need someone to talk to, reach out to me personally. You are not alone. I mean that.
One Truth You Need to Hold On To
There are people alive today…
who once stood exactly where you are.
Who thought it was over.
Who almost let go.
And now…
they are grateful they stayed.
Your story is not finished.
Not here.
Not now.
And the life you are meant to live…
is still in front of you.
Restored Life After
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come before You today lifting up every person who is sitting in a dark place… every heart that feels heavy… every soul that feels tired.
Father, I don’t pretend to know the darkness they are feeling…
but You do.
You see what no one else sees.
You hear the thoughts no one else hears.
You understand the pain they don’t even have words for.
Right now, Lord, I ask that You meet them in that place.
In the quiet.
In the loneliness.
In the moment where they feel like giving up.
Remind them that they are not alone.
Wrap them in Your presence in a way they can feel.
Bring peace to their mind where there is chaos.
Bring light where everything feels dark.
Father, silence the lies that tell them they are not enough…
that they are forgotten…
that their life does not matter.
Replace those lies with Your truth.
That they are loved.
That they are seen.
That they were created with purpose.
Give them the strength to take one more step…
to make one more call…
to hold on for one more day.
Place the right people in their life to speak life into them.
Guide them to the help they need.
And remind them that this moment does not define their future.
Father, restore what feels broken.
Heal what feels wounded.
And breathe hope back into their heart.
And even if they can’t see the way forward right now…
help them trust that You are already there.
We place them in Your hands, Lord,
knowing You are near to the brokenhearted
and You never leave those who call on You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Amen.