When You Think They’d Be Better Without You: You Are Worthy to Wake Up with Jesse Coontz | S1 Ep8

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion ofsuicidal ideation and mental health crisis. Please listen with care.

 In this powerful and deeply honest episode, Jesse Coontz—founder of Moms on Target—shares her story not from the other side of healing, but from the thick of the struggle. As a mom of four and a leader who has helped so many others, Jesse opens up about the dark moments when she believed her family might be better off without her—and what it means to keep waking up anyway.

From a childhood filled with instability and the quietkindness of church communities, Jesse reflects on how seeds of hope were planted early—and how they continue to carry her today. Her story is a testimony to the power of those small acts of love, the prayers of neighbors, and the truth that God wastes nothing. Even when we don’t see the fruit right away, the seeds matter.

Those early experiences also shaped her ability to recognize safe people as an adult—a gift that has helped her discern where to rest, where to open up, and where to protect her heart.

Jesse’s willingness to speak honestly from the middle of herpain is exactly what so many women need to hear. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s the real, raw truth about the weight of motherhood, ministry, and mental health. And through it all, the quiet thread of hope remains: you are not alone, and you are worthy of love, help, and another day.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re at the end of your rope—this episode is for you.

------

Visit Moms on Target