Finding Purpose After Depression: My Story, and Why I Became a Christian Life Coach
If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm right now, please reach out immediately. In the U.S. and Canada, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) — free, confidential, and available 24/7, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You matter, and reaching out is a sign of strength.
You might wonder how a person ends up becoming a life coach. It’s a fair question, and to answer it honestly, I have to start somewhere personal. So let me share a statistic first, and then I’ll tell you how I got here.
Every 11 minutes, someone in the U.S. dies by suicide. And every year, more than 12 million adults seriously think about it.
What most people don’t know is that I was almost one of the people counted in that first number. And I have been one of those 12 million adults who seriously considered ending their life. That’s something I fought silently for a very, very long time, and even when I finally opened up, it was to just one person.
How healing led me to purpose
It was in my own healing journey that I stumbled into Purpose Coaching. Because what I discovered, when I got honest about the root of so much of what I was carrying, was this: underneath it was a deep sense of unfulfillment, not understanding what my purpose was, not feeling like I had a reason to live.
I want to be careful here, because everyone’s journey with depression, suicidal thoughts, and mental illness is different. Not everyone who feels unfulfilled is battling depression, and not everyone’s depression traces back to purpose. That just happened to be my journey, and the path God used to lead me here.
Coming through that season, I published a 30-day devotional. That led me into Purpose Coaching, then into starting a women’s ministry, and eventually into becoming a certified Christian life coach. That’s the very brief version of a long, God-led road. I share it because I’m deeply passionate about helping people understand their purpose, conquer negative self-talk and limiting beliefs, and finally see themselves outside the negative picture so many of us have painted of ourselves.
Why “Christian” life coach and why it starts with God
I would not be where I am without God. He is the Creator of all things, and that’s exactly why I tell everyone I work with: you have to start there. You have to start with the One who created you.
Think about it like this. When you buy a product and want to understand how it works, you go to the manual, the company that made it. (These days we might Google it or ask AI, but the principle holds.) When you want to understand you, how you’re wired, what you’re made for…you go to the One who made you. That’s God.
That’s why I chose to become certified not just as a life coach, but as a Christian life coach: so I could pair faith with the practical steps we actually need to live a fulfilled life. My company is called Thrive From Within, because we all want a life that’s thriving, but you have to start within. Everything else flows from what’s inside.
What I want you to know
If you’re reading this from a dark place, hear me: it does get better, and there is help.
It’s okay if you need a licensed therapist, that is not what I am, and there’s no shame in needing one. It’s also okay if what you need is a life coach to walk alongside you, to coach you through different seasons and help you step into the woman God has called you to be. Both can be true. Faith and getting help were never meant to compete.
My heart is simply to be a resource, a source of hope for anyone in a dark place, anyone feeling unfulfilled, anyone wondering what their purpose is or quietly battling their mental health. You are not alone, and your story is not over.
A coaching moment: start at the root
If something in this resonated, here’s a gentle place to begin.
Ask yourself honestly: Where does my life feel unfulfilled, and have I ever taken that feeling to God, the One who made me? So often we try to fix the surface without going to the source.
Then take one small step toward support, whether that’s a prayer, a conversation with someone safe, reaching out to a therapist, or calling 988 if you’re struggling right now. Starting within doesn’t mean walking alone. It means beginning with God, and letting the right people walk with you from there.
And please don’t let all the goal-setting and self-improvement pressure around you add to the weight, sis. You don’t have to have it all figured out to take the next faithful step.
Let’s stay connected
If you’d like weekly encouragement, I send out a Work on You Wednesday email to my community — a midweek reminder to pause, reflect, and reset. You’re welcome to subscribe and let me walk with you a little each week.
Subscribe to Work on You Wednesday
Work with Charae
I’m Charae Tucker, a certified Christian life coach and the founder of Thrive From Within. My whole reason for doing this work is the road I just described. My heart is to help women overcome the negative self-talk and limiting beliefs that keep them small, and step into the purpose God designed them for.
When you’re ready to move from surviving toward thriving, to renew your thinking and truly thrive from within — Power Into Purpose is a gentle, faith-rooted place to begin (never a replacement for the professional or crisis care above).
It does get better. Start within, start with God, and let the right people walk with you.
Frequently asked questions
Can unfulfillment or a lack of purpose be connected to depression?
For some people, yes. A deep sense of unfulfillment can be part of what they’re carrying. But everyone’s journey is different, and not all depression is rooted in purpose. If you’re struggling, it’s worth exploring with a professional who can help you understand your own story.
What’s the difference between a Christian life coach and a therapist?
A therapist is licensed to treat mental-health conditions and heal past wounds. A Christian life coach walks alongside you to renew your thinking, clarify your purpose, and take faith-rooted, practical steps forward. They can complement each other, and a good coach will always point you to a therapist when that’s what you need.
Where can I get help right now?
If you’re in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) in the U.S. and Canada, available 24/7, or contact your local emergency services. You can also chat at 988lifeline.org. Please reach out — help is real, and you deserve it.
If you or someone you love is struggling, please reach out for support; you are not alone, and it does get better.
