Last night I was scrolling through Twitter, pretty mindlessly as usual. But then I saw a tweet that didn’t seem real. I did a double-take as my heart dropped out of my chest.
Jarrid Wilson, a well-known pastor and mental health advocate, had passed away. The first tweet I thought didn’t say it explicitly, but as I began to scour Twitter for more information, my mind began to assume the worst: suicide.
Tragically, my assumption was confirmed by a number of news articles I found shortly afterward.
You mean the guy who was ALWAYS speaking about mental health on social media, the guy who so desperately wanted others to know their worth and openly spoke out about the terrors of depression and the tragedy of suicide? That guy? The 30-year old guy with a wife and two young kids?
Yeah. That guy.
The guy whose wisdom and Christlike attitude was always a breath of fresh air on social media, never stirring up controversy but always communicating love and respect to any and all people with the message of Christ.
The guy who so viscerally understood the darkness of depression and gave his life to ensuring others wouldn’t succumb to the weight of it.
But that guy wasn’t just any guy to me. I’ve looked up to Jarrid for years, respected his viewpoints immensely, and appreciated the gracious and loving way he communicated the love of Christ to a large audience.
Sometimes we think of “celebrity” pastors as distant figures who aren’t so much real people as they are caricatures of some mold we’ve assigned to them.
Jarrid was not that.
He was a real dude who actually struggled with the things he preached about. He actually spoke from experience.
And he actually practiced what he preached. I know from experience.
Jarrid Wilson didn’t know me personally. I’ve never met him. But when I started blogging during college, I reached out to him because I respected him as a writer and leader in the church.
I took a shot in the dark when I reached out to Jarrid, thinking I’d never hear back from him due to the magnitude of his audience on social media. I was wrong. He followed me back on Twitter, but he wasn’t just a far-off social media influencer. He actually interacted with me from time to time, and though our interactions were brief and mostly surface-level, I could sense one thing.
He cared.
When one of my blog posts started picking up steam, I sent it off to Jarrid, thinking he would like what I had to say (and in all honesty, hoping for a tweet and some promotion of my post). Jarrid actually opened the message, to my surprise. He had some encouraging words for me.
“My friend.”
It’s very easy to use those words loosely or insincerely. But I knew Jarrid meant what he said. He didn’t really know me, but he didn’t need to. I was his friend, and I didn’t have to earn that position. I was his friend just because I was a human being.
To Jarrid Wilson, I mattered.
On Jarrid’s Twitter profile, the banner says “Your Life Matters” — the cry of his mental health advocacy organization, Anthem of Hope.
Jarrid Wilson practiced what he preached. The words on his Twitter banner were the banner he raised over his entire life, devoting his time and energy to make sure people feeling isolated and marginalized knew their lives carried infinite worth.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t share his message, which I believe comes straight from the heart of God, in his memory.
Darkness is real. Depression is real. The devil is real. And his conniving just robbed the world of an incredible person who I knew was in my corner.
My friends, suicide does not end the chance of life getting worse. Suicide eliminates the chance of life ever getting better.
Whatever you going through, you are not alone. Your life matters. You are worthy of love, dignity and respect. You. Yes, YOU.
There is a God in Heaven who created you, loves you more than you can fathom, and has a plan for you greater than you can dream.
YOU ARE LOVED.
If you ever need somebody to talk to or somebody to pray for you, I’ll provide a judgment-free ear and I will listen to your story. Reach out to me. Don’t hesitate. I’m here.
Jarrid Wilson mattered, and his soul still matters to Jesus.
If Jarrid were reading these words to you, I think he’d end with one simple fact…
YOU MATTER.
NATE LAKE 
Hey Bro,
Thank you for sharing this piece in memory of Jarrid..I’m deeply sorry for your loss of a friend.
You are a gifted writer Nate.
I miss you.
Robert
very touching…depression and suicide are becoming a global problem and In my country if men are not committing suicide then they are killing women. But yesterday I had of a case of a young 14 year old girl who committed suicide because her teacher embarrassed her in class because her menses started and messed her dress. The teacher told her that she was a dirty girl and asked her to leave the classroom and stand outside. What really hurt me the most was, the teacher putting her down, is a 40 year old woman/mum..
My Sincerest condolences for losing a dear friend
What a wonderful and beautiful sentiment to your friend.
I do not know either of you but I cried for quite a while.
My husband says that loneliness is the curse of humanity and I think he may be right.
Even when we have people around us we can feel extremely lonely in our thoughts and in our feelings.
Often those whom provide such support for others are neglected themselves. Either because they are seen as strong and capable or that they themselves feel unable to disclose their own feelings for fear of letting people down.
I know people have a lot to say about suicide, but having been there myself due to chronic illness which leaves me house and bed bound, I think it takes extreme strength and courage to take ones life. I know that is not how many view it. Completely the opposite in fact. But when you’re at that point when life is so difficult and leaving this world seems the only option to ones over powering feelings, to actually do it takes immense courage because of the knowledge of the aftermath one will leave behind.
I am so terribly sorry that you have lost a very good friend, and this world has lost a great man. And I’m especially sorry his family have lost a husband and a father.
But, one day, will we all meet each other again and I hope all that know and love him will take comfort in that fact and that now he himself is at rest and peace with His Father that loves him and us all.
Much love,
Fiona.
Reblogged this on Don't dismiss M.E. and commented:
This is a wonderfully expressed tribute to a man who helped so many, Pastor Jarrid Wilson.
Mental health is a topic which is talked about more openly these days with care and compassion as opposed to ridicule. However, we can still miss the signs that our friends or family may be suffering. As a community, we must never assume that someone who seems to have it all together because they are helping others, does in fact have it together. Never be afraid to ask, ‘are you okay’.
Thank you Nathaniel for writing this post and I am so very sorry you have lost a friend. X