Feeling Suicidal? Help Is Near

On Sunday, preaching from Matthew 27, Robin recounted Jesus' experience on the cross. Jesus laid down His life for our sins. He rose again so we could have real hope of eternal life - A hope that keeps Christians worldwide going, even in very rough times. You may say that future hope is of no use to you now. You need help now! Well, Jesus also promised never to leave nor forsake us. (Heb. 13:5). He is with us now, and we will be with Him in the age to come. Yes, we may have to suffer here on earth; he never said we won't, but He guarantees His comfort in suffering. Trust in His promise.

There was a moment on the cross when Jesus felt forsaken by the Father and cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  If Jesus felt forsaken, it's no surprise that we occasionally feel forsaken. The Father heard Jesus' cry, and the resurrection proves that He was not altogether forsaken. Sometimes, people don't just feel forsaken but despair of life itself. These are times when deep, dark thoughts take over reason and paint a bleak picture of the future. A time when it seems the best choice is to end it all. Even at those times, help is nearer than you can imagine. 

Suicide is a serious public health problem. It is a leading cause of death in many countries. Data from the Samaritans show that there were over five thousand suicides in England in 2022. Men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women, and suicide is highest among men aged 50-54. Globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) report that over 700,000 people die by suicide yearly. WHO also report the link between mental health conditions and suicides in wealthy countries like ours, but they also say, "Many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis."    

The good news is that suicides can be prevented. National and global organisations say strategies for preventing suicide include talking about it, maintaining meaningful connections in the community and seeking help. The Mental Health Foundation says, "One thing that can really make a difference is talking. Remember, it's okay to ask someone if they're feeling suicidal; it could save their life." 

Apostle Paul described a time when, to all intents and purposes, he felt suicidal and lived to tell the story of his victory. There may be a few things we can learn from his experience: 

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the     sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (2 Cor. 1:8-11, NIV)

Looking at the verses above, we can see that the first thing Paul does is talk. He was keen to share his experience with people he loved and knew loved him. He called them "brothers and sisters." Talking about how we feel and sharing our challenges with people we know and trust is crucial for healthy mental well-being. The problem we have in our society is that we find it hard to talk about the things that really matter to us. We pretend as if all is well. We wear masks, and in the age of social media, we project an image that says, "We've got it all figured out," and life is always good. That then puts pressure on everyone else to pretend that they are fine.

As Christians, we must lead change. For real change to happen, we must go beyond what I call Sunday-centric relationships. This is when all our contact with each other is reduced to the Sunday morning service in Church. We must know each other well for our relationships to be meaningful and engender trust. When we know each other well, we can build trust. This is what real discipleship is - Doing life together, sharing, eating together, being in each other's homes and lives. (Acts 2:42-47)

Secondly, Paul relied on God, not on himself. We cannot trust our minds. They imagine things that are not always true. We cannot totally rely on how we feel and what we think. We must rely on what God says about us. We must take his word, not our thoughts as the ultimate reality. "...whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." (Phil. 4:8, NIV). Through the power of God, we can arrest evil thoughts that come to our mind. We may not be able to stop the thoughts from coming into our minds, but we can certainly stop them from landing and taking root. (2 Cor. 10:4-5)

Thirdly, Paul sets his hope on God to deliver him. God delivered Paul from his depressive thoughts, and He will deliver us too. Notice the three-way formula Paul used: (1) God has delivered, (2) He will deliver again, and (3) He will continue to deliver us. No one in human history who set their hope on God has ever experienced disappointment. He will not disappoint you either. God is faithful, and He keeps His promises.  

Finally, Paul receives the help of others in the form of prayer. Paul welcomed the prayers of the saints. He knew that prayers change situations. The fact our prayers are directed to God, who can do all things, means we have confidence that our prayers will lead to thanksgiving when those prayers are fully answered. As we pray together for sound minds and freedom from suicidal and depressive thoughts, we are confident that God will answer and set the captives free. 

Are you depressed and suicidal? Do what Paul did. Talk to those you trust, rely on God, not what your thoughts tell you, set your hope on God for deliverance and encourage others to pray for you regularly and consistently. Pray until your joy is full. If you know anyone who might be depressed and suicidal, talk to them, show real care and pray with them. Let them feel their life is worth living. The name of Jesus is mighty to save. Please sing the song below with me until all dark addictions and suicidal thoughts flee. Amen!