Todayâs Community Reflection: When Suicide Touches Our Lives
As Christians, the world often looks to usâwith expectations, assumptions, and hope. Non-believers may expect us to be perfect. Others turn to us in moments of crisis, seeking prayer, comfort, and guidance. Whether weâre ready for it or not, we are seen as a lightâand people watch how we respond, especially in times of tragedy. People tend to look up to those who live with strong morals and visible peace. But they may also turn away from believers who seem hypocritical or lost. The truth is, the expectations placed on Christians are highâand we feel that pressure daily. While getting in to the topic of the day, let's internally reflect, asking ourselves "Are we the Christian people are coming to in time of need because they trust me?" Today, letâs talk about a very specific and deeply painful topic: How do we, as believers, respond when suicide impacts our lives or community? Suicide rates have steadily increased over the past 15 years, reaching a troubling peak in 2022. Many of us have been touched by thisâpersonally, through a loved one, or someone close in our community. Even Scripture doesnât shy away from this hard reality: - King Saul, wounded and desperate, fell on his sword (1 Samuel 31:4). - Judas Iscariot, overcome with guilt, took his life after betraying Jesus (Matthew 27:5). - Samson, in a final act of strength, ended his life to defeat the Philistines (Judges 16:30). These are tragic stories. But they remind us of the weight of human struggle and the brokenness we all carry. Yet in the midst of darkness, Godâs truth remains: Life is sacred. We are made in His image (Genesis 1:27). He knows every hair on our head (Luke 12:7). He gives our lives purpose (Psalm 139:13â16). And He calls us to choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19). So how do we respond when suicide shakes our world? We start with prayer. We pray for the soul of the one lost. We pray for the healing of those left behind. We pray for peace, for mercy, and for Godâs comfort to meet the grieving in their lowest place. We thank God for creating each of us uniquely and lovinglyâand we surrender the rest to His will.