HOPE

            Today I awoke to news of another suicide. A friend of wife had a young family member who took her life yesterday. Unfortunately, this is not a rare occurrence. Saturday I sat with my brother in law and three of my children and talked about Chester Bennington, the lead singer for Linkin Park, who committed suicide by hanging in his Los Angeles home July 20. We talked about Chris Cornell, singer for Sound Garden, who took his life May 18 after a show in Detroit. We talked about Curt Cobain, of Nirvana, who ended his life April 5, 1994 in his home with a cause of death by self-inflicted shotgun wound. All of these men seemed to be living the life that many musicians only dreamed of. They seemed to “have it all” on the outside.
            The accounts of suicide are not limited to the rich and famous, and the reasons are as varied as people themselves. Over the last two years several high schools in our area have been devastated by suicides of teenagers, often those who appeared to have so much going their way and living a happy life.
 The truth is that there is so much that is going on under the façade that we portray to others. Often times depression and doubt is damaging these persons, who ultimately feel a sense of hopelessness in their lives.

            I have known several people who have attempted suicide, but have survived, often by the quick responding of a family member who finds them and acts quickly.

            In 2016 the National Suicide Prevention Network estimated that 44,193 Americans took their own lives.

            That is 121 suicides per day just in our country alone.

            There is reason for concern here.

            If you are reading this and you have had suicide affect your family, I want to encourage you that there was nothing you could have done or said to prevent it. I have talked with and counseled individuals who feel like they should have “noticed” something more, or “said” something or “done” something more.

            This is regret, there was nothing that you could have done.

            I have talked to individuals who have said that they should have shown more love to their family member or friend who took their life. But again, there was not “more” love that you could have shown that would have prevented this tragic action.

            And I have talked to individuals who were concerned about the eternal security of their loved ones, believing that all suicide victims go to hell.

            Let me say this loudly, I don’t believe that. In fact there is so much that could happen between a person and God in their final moments of life that none of us can even possibly grasp or understand.

            Suicide is a tragic and needless loss of life, but is a very real epidemic that we as a culture are facing. And we cannot be silent about it.

            We must talk about it. We must learn to not look the other way. We must learn to be able to let others know when we are not OK. We have to be in relationship together.

            There is hope!

            And taking your own life is not the answer.

            Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

            And I believe this. Hope and a future. That is God’s plan for us. But we have to be here for each other, to love, to listen, to encourage, to cry with, to just do this life together.

            It’s not hopeless. There is hope. There are people that love you.

            Call this number if you need to talk, or give this number to someone you know:

                        1-800-273-8255  National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

                        Or text “TALK” to 741-741

There is Hope. And His name is Jesus.