Today was National Suicide Prevention Day and September is prevention month. It was on this same day two years ago I called the suicide hotline for a friend in distress. This friend was going to end their life at work. Thanks be to God they didn’t. A certain month or day designated for awareness is, but awareness should start every day. Be vigilant. It could happen to anyone.
This Sunday, before my pastor transitioned into the next part of the service, a mother pushed her teenage daughter up to the pulpit in a wheelchair and asked that he and the ministers would pray for her healing. They began to pray and she stood up guided by a male and female minister on either side. She walked the length of the pulpit once and back again, with noticeable incision scars on her knees. With each step she cried for joy. My pastor asked ‘what is her story?’ The mother proceeded to say that her daughter attempted suicide by jumping backwards from four stories high. Miraculously she landed on her face with her arm covering her forehead. She sustained a shattered face from the eyes downward, broken femur bone, shattered knees, ankles, elbows, and wasn’t able to walk. While she was in a coma she said that she was taken to heaven and hell.
Sometimes you don’t know what a person is dealing with internally but God does. God is more than able to rescue a person at their lowest moments in life. Each experience is used for his glory and a testament to the believer’s faith.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:28
People attempt suicide for various reasons. Just know that no one or thing is to be feared more than God.
God is to be feared or reverenced and respected, not man, nor our issues and circumstances.
My pastor continued on with his sermon, including that “there is no pain greater than your purpose.”
Indeed.
If you know someone who is contemplating suicide, try to talk them out of it if you can, or call the suicide and crisis lifeline immediately.
Call #988