Breaking Her Silence on Bullying and Self-Harm: The Hilarie MacLeod Story | Be The 25

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 ❓Are you silently struggling but feel like you can't let anyone know?
😔 Do you ever feel pressure to hold it all together because you're a Christian?
💭 What should you do when the weight of your struggles feels unbearable?

In this powerful episode of Be the 25, special guest Hilarie MacLeod shares her deeply personal story of how hiding her struggles led to a downward spiral—one that almost ended in tragedy. But through her darkest moment, she found hope. 🙌

🔹 Hilarie seemed to have it all—top 10 in her class, honor society, student government, active in church youth group. But behind the success, she was battling bullying, isolation, and overwhelming pain.
🔹 The pressure to pretend everything was fine … only made things worse.
🔹 Keeping it all inside led her to a breaking point—but God wasn’t done with her story yet.

🎧 Listen in as Hilarie opens up about:
✅ The dangers of suffering in silence 🫢
✅ Why asking for help can lead to healing and hope 💪
✅ How God met her in the darkest moment and changed her for His glory  ✝️

📖 SCRIPTURES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Romans 5:3-5 – “We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance, and perseverance proven character, and proven character hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
• Micah 7:8 – “Do not gloat over me, my enemies. Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.”
• Proverbs 24:16 – “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.”

💬 This episode might be exactly what you—or a friend—need to hear. You're not alone, and there is hope. 🌟

👉 Don’t battle your struggles alone. Speak up. Reach out. Break the silence, in Jesus’ name. There’s hope waiting for you! ❤️

🚨 If you or someone you know is a victim of bullying, please go to stopbullying.gov for help and resources.

🚨 If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, CALL or TEXT the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

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75% of Christian teens and young adults in local church youth groups walk away from the church – and many from Christ – after graduating high school. This is a call to Be the 25 who don't.

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-Dr. Sharon