My heart is heavy this morning. Over the last week I have heard four different unrelated stories of people choosing to end their lives. People who have a seemingly great life, people with family, people whom you would never imagine would / could just give up.
So today I ponder this question: "Why?"
What could bring a person to this point? Is it fear? Anxiety? Uncertainty? To be able to leave everything behind, everyone they loved behind . . . I just cannot understand it.
I had a student ask me, "What happens to a Christian who commits suicide?" And the honest truth is I really just don't know. My answer was that we give that person to God, ask for His Perfect Mercy and pray for them. In the meantime, asking God to give us peace to be able to let go. I hope that was the right answer.
What I do know is that God has made several promises to us:
Romans 10:13 - "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
I Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart I have overcome the world.
I Love that last one! "TAKE HEART I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD!"
We have learned in 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control". Fear is not from God.
In Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
In I Peter 5:7 "Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
and in Matthew 6:25-27 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable that they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"
We may never understand a person's last thoughts driving them to the brink. But we know from these promises, which our Heavenly Father blessed us, that when we know Him; when we cast our fear, anxiety, worry, uncertainty on Him; He will give us Perfect Peace. Not free from challenges, but only free from the bondage which keeps us from enjoying the blessings around us as we navigate the challenge.
So, from a woman who spent years living in a world of fear and anxious worry, give them to God. Don't allow the darkness of this world to swallow you into it. Walk into His Light and allow Him to give you the Perfect Peace He so wants to give.
Father, I pray for those who have taken their life, I pray that you have mercy on them and that you will comfort those left behind in their wake. Only You know what leads them to this and only You can provide the comfort to let this go. And for those in future who consider this as an option, I pray that You will send an Angel to them, someone who will be I John 4:7 to them "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." May we all know and understand Your Perfect Love and be able to share with those who do not.
Always your Obedient Daughter,
