When Kevin Hines was a teenager, he had come to the end of his rope and was overcome with feelings of sadness and despair.
Not seeing another way out, he decided he would take his own life.
And Kevin didn’t just talk about suicide – he actually attempted it by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. But instead of plummeting to his death, God miraculously saved his life.
There’s nothing sadder than a life lost to suicide.
Sadly, many people who take their lives feel like the world is against them and nobody cares – when nothing could be further from the truth.
Kevin felt as if he had nothing to live for, so he got on a bus that would take him to the Golden Gate Bridge where he planned to jump and take his own life.
Of course, he secretly hoped someone would say something to him, anything for that matter, and ask him what was wrong or if he was okay.
He was desperate for a sign that there was something worth living for.
But instead, he received a mocking laugh from a passenger and a brash comment from an aloof bus driver who told him to hurry off the bus so he could get on with his route.
Further adding to his feelings that nobody cared, Kevin decided to move forward with his suicide attempt.
But as he let go of the railing and began to plummet to his death – he immediately regretted it.
Since he was already falling, all he could do was cry out to God and beg Him to intervene.
He realized he made a mistake and had the will to live – but he had already jumped.
Kevin fell 240 feet at 75 miles an hour in just 4 seconds.
As he slammed into the water breaking his ankle and lower vertebrae, he continued to pray for God to save him.
To his amazement, God responded in the most incredible way.
Lifesite News reported:
“It was the single worst action I had ever taken,” Hines said later.
“I thought I had to die, and I was wrong.”
The teen crashed into San Francisco Bay feet first, breaking an ankle and shattering his lower vertebrae. As he struggled in the water, he prayed not to drown. To his amazement, and the amazement of onlookers, a sea lion kept him afloat, pushing him above the water until the Coast Guard arrived.”
Yes, God used a sea lion to help keep Kevin afloat until he was rescued!
Most people who jump from the Golden Gate Bridge die upon impact or drown as their broken bodies can no longer sustain them.
But thanks to God’s divine intervention, Kevin survived his suicide attempt and now uses his story to speak about the tragedy of suicide and inspire others to make a different choice.
If you or someone you love is contemplating suicide, please know God loves you and you are not alone.
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem – and there are resources available to help you make a different decision.
The Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the USA is 1-800-273-8255.
(h/t Christian Life Daily)