The Day I Tried To End My Life, But Jesus Rescued Me

In this episode, Wes shares his deeply moving, raw journey of surviving severe internal pain, isolation, and a near-fatal choice.

From the outside, Wes’s life had milestone achievements—including walking on to play Division 1 college football at BYU. But internally, he was dealing with deep-seeded anger, resentment, and the trauma of growing up in a broken home. He opens up completely about the perfect storm of relationship betrayal, intense family conflict, and academic stress that drove him to a Provo Temple parking lot, where he shot himself in the chest.

Wes talks about the exact millisecond reality set in, the absolute miracle of a bullet narrowly curving around his heart by just three millimeters, and the immediate internal shift that wiped away any suicidal thoughts forever.

This conversation highlights a heavy reality that many of us face but rarely discuss openly: the dangerous trap of carrying a massive backpack of shame instead of leaning into the truth. Wes explains what began to change for him, how he learned to view his deepest afflictions through an eternal perspective, and why choosing to surrender your pain to Jesus Christ is the ultimate step toward true redemption and a whole new light.

What you’ll hear:

Navigating the underlying trauma and lack of security that comes from a broken home.

The hidden danger of sacrificing your own healing trying to "rescue" someone else.

An unfiltered account of Wes’s suicide attempt and the exact millisecond his perspective flipped.

The medical miracle of a bullet missing his heart by three millimeters.

The critical difference between life-destroying shame and constructive guilt.

Why true greatness as a man is found in absolute submissiveness to Christ.

If anything in this episode resonates with you, The Matt Richardson Podcast is a place to find support, tools, and guidance.