EMBRACE LIFE.
Explore messages of insight and hope that help expose the spiritual sources of self-destruction and communicate the power of life that’s found in Christ.
Are you in crisis right now? Call 800-273-8255.
ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE?
1.
WHAT YOU MAY BE FEELING
Even if the world seems like a dark and lonely place right now, remember, you are valuable, you are loved, and you have a purpose. After visiting the suicide forest in Japan, I believe there are four main reasons you may be contemplating suicide.
ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE?
1.
WHAT YOU MAY BE FEELING
Even if the world seems like a dark and lonely place right now, remember, you are valuable, you are loved, and you have a purpose. The Japanese culture is rooted deeply in valuing your reputation, having personal and family honor, and shame. After visiting the suicide forest in Japan, I believe there are 4 main reasons you may be contemplating suicide.
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When you’ve begun to believe that your life doesn’t matter to others, you lose sight of your worth and value. You start to believe that your life is insignificant, maybe even a mistake.
If you are struggling to believe that you have value, worth and that you are truly loved, read Psalm 139:13 (NIV), “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
Our loving God created you for a reason; He has a plan for you. Even when the world seems like a dark and lonely place, trust in Him.
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As you withdraw inside yourself, you begin to feel isolated, fearing no one cares about you or understands you. You have no place to go, and believe you don’t know of anyone who loves you.
You are not alone, but you must reach out. Remember, the vine Jesus talks about in John 15:4 is of no use until you connect to it. “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me” (John 15:4).
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When the family is broken, it creates an opportunity for someone to feel unloved, insecure, and unwanted. It can cause a breakdown in your ability to give or receive love or communicate your feelings and oftentimes, leading you to feel like you don’t belong.
As humans, we were created by God to love and to be loved. When that doesn’t happen it’s detrimental. There will always be a deficit in our hearts – searching for belonging and love. God knows the brokenness we face and has a plan to restore it. “God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.” (Psalm 68:6)
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When you don’t have a group of family or friends that value you; welcome your words, ideas, thoughts, or feelings, you begin to feel as if you are the problem. Feeling as if you have no one to truly listen to you or accept you can leave you feeling hopeless.
We all want to feel valued. Without this, we are left feeling empty. This deficit can only be filled by Christ and healthy relationships with others. It’s important to find belonging and seek out a community of people who value us. If you are struggling to believe you are valuable, read Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 5:8, Isaiah 49:15, and Jeremiah 31:3
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11)
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8)
Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? Even if that were possible, I would not forget you! (Isaiah 49:15)
I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself (Jeremiah 31:3)
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When you’ve begun to believe that your life doesn’t matter to others, you lose site of your worth and value. You start to believe that your life is insignificant, maybe even a mistake.
If you are struggling to believe that you have a value and worth, and that you are truly loved read Psalm 139:13 (NIV), “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Our loving God created you for a purpose; He has a plan for you. Even if the world seems like a dark and lonely place right now, trust Him. You were born for more! Reflect on these words from the Psalms.
-
As you withdraw inside yourself, you begin to feel isolated, fearing no one cares about you, or understands you. You have no place to go, and believe you don’t know of anyone who loves you.
You are not alone, but you must reach out. Remember, the vine Jesus talks about in John 15:4 is of no use until you connect to it. “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me” (John 15:4).
-
When the family is broken, it creates an opportunity for someone to feel unloved, insecure, and unwanted. It can cause a breakdown in your ability to give or receive love or communicate your feelings and oftentimes, leading you to feel like you don’t belong.
As humans, we were created by God to love and to be loved. When that doesn’t happen it’s detrimental. There will always be a deficit in our hearts – searching for belonging and love. God knows the brokenness we face and has a plan to restore it. “God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.” (Psalm 68:6)
-
When you don’t have a group of family or friends that value you; welcome your words, ideas, thoughts, or feelings, you begin to feel as if you are the problem. Feeling as if you have no one to truly listen to you or accept you can leave you feeling hopeless.
We all want to feel valued. Without this, we are left feeling empty. This deficit can only be filled by Christ and healthy relationships with others. It’s important to find belonging and seek out a community of people who value us. If you are struggling to believe you are valuable, read Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 5:8, Isaiah 49:15, and Jeremiah 31:3
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11)
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8)
Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? Even if that were possible, I would not forget you! (Isaiah 49:15)
I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself (Jeremiah 31:3)
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED TAKING YOUR OWN LIFE?
There are a lot of reasons someone could desire to die. There’s a lot of pain and suffering in this world, maybe it seems like a relief or a release to move into the afterlife. Maybe you’ve been hurt and are angry with someone close to you, and it seems like a good way to have revenge on that person. Maybe you feel like the world would be a better place without you? No matter the reason, suicide is not the answer.
2.
2.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED TAKING YOUR OWN LIFE?
There are a lot of reasons someone could desire to die. There’s a lot of pain and suffering in this world, maybe it seems like a relief or a release to move into the afterlife. Maybe you’ve been hurt and are angry with someone close to you, and it seems like a good way to have revenge on that person. Maybe you feel like the world would be a better place without you? No matter the reason, suicide is not the answer.
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I once heard a quote, “Suicide doesn’t take the pain away, it gives it to someone else.” The loss experienced by those you leave behind will be greater than any relief you could experience by ending your life. You may hurt the person you’re angry with, but what good does that do? You won’t be around to enjoy the fruit of your revenge. And I can assure you, the world won’t be better without you. God created you. It wasn’t an accident, and He didn’t make a mistake. He placed on you on this earth for a valuable purpose and He has a plan for your life. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) 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.” The answer is not death - it’s LIFE. Living more life can only create new opportunities for change, relief, forgiveness, healing, and peace.
These terrible feelings you are experiencing could be the very thing God can use to mold you into a person who can make a difference, a person who can help others in their struggles, a person with a life changing story. There is a way out! Check out verse 12 of Jeremiah 29, “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” God promises to always hear our prayers. Sometimes, it’s difficult. You may feel far from God, especially in the darkest of times, but He’s there. Open your heart to Him, and He will answer you.
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Just like your body needs to be fed in order to live, the same goes for ideas – they must be fed in order to take root in our hearts and minds. The idea of suicide must be fed in order to build a stronghold in your heart. Are you feeding death or life? Try feeding the truth with the Word of God. Feed life with positive thoughts and love – for yourself, and for others. It all comes back to your relationship with God. Do you know Him? Do you respect Him as the all-knowing, all-ruling, all-powerful being that He is? Can you choose to reject the first gift God has given you – the gift of LIFE! Not to mention the second gift He gave, which is just as precious - REDEMPTION.
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Open yourself up to his plan. Why not give that a try, before you choose death? What do you have to lose? God’s love will never let you down. Will you choose to give up on yourself – when God has not given up on you? If the author of all life believes in you, in the good that can come from you, who are you to disagree?
All it takes is faith as small as a mustard seed (that’s tiny by the way, about the size of the period at the end of this sentence). Matthew 17:20 (NIV) says, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” God has given you every tool you need to fight and conquer the spirit of death at work in your life. Repent for taking your life into your own hands, and ask Him to fill you with a realization of who He is, and how much He loves you. After that, find someone you trust, and talk to them about your thoughts of suicide and death. You may be surprised to find out how much those around you love you, care for you, and want you to be whole and happy.
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Call 1-800-273-8255 ASAP.
-
I once heard a quote, “Suicide doesn’t take the pain away, it gives it to someone else.” The loss experienced by those you leave behind will be greater than any relief you could experience by ending your life. You may hurt the person you’re angry with, but what good does that do? You won’t be around to enjoy the fruit of your revenge. And I can assure you, the world won’t be better without you. God created you. It wasn’t an accident, and He didn’t make a mistake. He placed on you on this earth for a valuable purpose and He has a plan for your life. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) 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.” The answer is not death - it’s LIFE. Living more life can only create new opportunities for change, relief, forgiveness, healing, and peace.
These terrible feelings you are experiencing could be the very thing God can use to mold you into a person who can make a difference, a person who can help others in their struggles, a person with a life changing story. There is a way out! Check out verse 12 of Jeremiah 29, “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” God promises to always hear our prayers. Sometimes, it’s difficult. You may feel far from God, especially in the darkest of times you’re experiencing, but He’s there. Open your heart to Him, and He will answer you.
-
Just like your body needs to be fed in order to sustain and live, the same goes for ideas – they must be fed and fostered in order to take root in our hearts and minds. The idea of suicide must be fed in order to take a stronghold on your heart. Are you feeding death, or life? Try feeding the truth with the Word of God. Feed life with positive thoughts and love – for yourself, and for others. It all comes back to your relationship with God. Do you know Him? Do you respect Him as the all-knowing, all-ruling, all-powerful being that He is? Can you choose to reject the first gift God has given you – the gift of LIFE! Not to mention the second gift He gave, which is just as precious - REDEMPTION.
-
Open yourself up to his plan. Why not give that a try, before you choose death? What do you have to lose? God’s love will never let you down. Will you choose to give up on yourself – when God has not given up on you? If the author of all life believes in you, in the good that can come from you, who are you to disagree?
All it takes is faith as small as a mustard seed (that’s tiny by the way, about the size of the period at the end of this sentence). Matthew 17:20 (NIV) says, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” God has given you every tool you need to fight and conquer the spirit of death at work in your life. Repent for taking your life into your own hands, and ask Him to fill you with a realization of who He is, and how much He loves you. After that, find someone you trust, and talk to them about your thoughts of suicide and death. You may be surprised to find out how much those around you love you, care for you, and want you to be whole and happy.
-
Call 1-800-273-8255 ASAP.
FINISH THE RACE WELL.
God is for you and wants to cheer you across the finish line…just don’t quit running.
In the Bible, the Christian life is often referred to as a race. Hebrews 12:1 says,“let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” This scripture is not referring to an actual race with athletes, a track and a finish line. It is referring to our Christian faith. From the moment we receive Jesus until our last breath, we are running a race. And as difficult as life can become at times, we must focus on finishing the race well.
3.
3.
FINISH THE RACE WELL.
God is for you and wants to cheer you across the finish line…just don’t quit running.
In the Bible, the Christian life is often referred to as a race. Hebrews 12:1 says,“let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” This scripture is not referring to an actual race with athletes, a track and a finish line. It is referring to our Christian faith. From the moment we receive Jesus until our last breath, we are running a race. And as difficult as life can become at times, we must focus on finishing the race well.
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The race that has been set before us is full of wonders, miracles, grace and adventure, but at times, it can feel quite the opposite. The good news is that the longer we run, the more we become like the One who called us to the race. Now, this race is not about perfection or speed. It’s about investment. Just like a marathon, the race of life and faith requires endurance and perseverance. It is a process that uses the joy and the pain you’ve experienced to create the character, endurance and perseverance you need to withstand the testing. The more you invest in yourself spiritually, the more endurance and strength you will have for the race set before you. This is a key to finishing well.
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Is there something in your life that is preventing you from finishing the race that God has called you to run? Is it emotional baggage, re-occurring sin, or a bad attitude? There are many things in life that can prevent you from finishing the race. Hebrews 12:1 also tells us to, “…strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.” God knows that our struggles will weigh us down. In order for us to finish the race set before us, we must put aside anything that will hinder our ability to run. What extra weight are you carrying around with you? Will you lay it at Jesus’ feet?
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Because of unexplainable stress and pressure, Jesus had many opportunities to take a shortcut and avoid the cross, but He knew that God asked Him to finish the race. As your race progresses, the effects on the body, mind, and spirit will take their toll, but don’t choose the short cut. Don’t quit running, even if you feel like you’ve made too many mistakes. There are countless people that have started the race well, but circumstances, pressure or sin caused them to quit. Let me encourage you to focus on the finish line. In order to discover the wonders, miracles, grace, and adventures God has for you, you must continue to run. When you push past the discomfort and pain, you will discover strengths you didn’t know you had.
God is for you and wants to cheer you across the finish line…just don’t quit running.
Scripture:
2 Timothy 4:7: …I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…
2 Samuel 18:3: …Come what may, I want to run…
Hebrews 12:1: …throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…
James 1:12: Blessed is the one who perseveres…that person will receive the crown of life…
Matthew 24:13: …but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved…
Hebrews 12:1: …run with perseverance the race marked out for us…
-
The race that has been set before us is full of wonders, miracles, grace and adventure, but at times, it can feel quite the opposite. The good news is that the longer we run, the more we become like the One who called us to the race. Now, this race is not about perfection or speed. It’s about investment. Just like a marathon, the race of life and faith requires endurance and perseverance. It is a process that uses the joy and the pain you’ve experienced to create the character, endurance and perseverance you need to withstand the testing. The more you invest in yourself spiritually, the more endurance and strength you will have for the race set before you. This is a key to finishing well.
-
Is there something in your life that is preventing you from finishing the race that God has called you to run? Is it emotional baggage, re-occurring sin, or a bad attitude? There are many things in life that can prevent you from finishing the race. Hebrews 12:1 also tells us to, “…strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.” God knows that our struggles will weigh us down. In order for us to finish the race set before us, we must put aside anything that will hinder our ability to run. What extra weight are you carrying around with you? Will you lay it at Jesus’ feet?
-
Because of unexplainable stress and pressure, Jesus had many opportunities to take a shortcut and avoid the cross, but He knew that God asked Him to finish the race. As your race progresses, the effects on the body, mind, and spirit will take their toll, but don’t choose the short cut. Don’t quit running, even if you feel like you’ve made too many mistakes. There are countless people that have started the race well, but circumstances, pressure or sin caused them to quit. Let me encourage you to focus on the finish line. In order to discover the wonders, miracles, grace, and adventures God has for you, you must continue to run. When you push past the discomfort and pain, you will discover strengths you didn’t know you had.
God is for you and wants to cheer you across the finish line…just don’t quit running.
Scripture:
2 Timothy 4:7: …I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…
2 Samuel 18:3: …Come what may, I want to run…
Hebrews 12:1: …throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…
James 1:12: Blessed is the one who perseveres…that person will receive the crown of life…
Matthew 24:13: …but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved…
Hebrews 12:1: …run with perseverance the race marked out for us…
HELPFUL VIDEOS
THE SUICIDE FOREST
Explore the Sea of Trees, understand the grim reality of suicide, and discover hope in a place filled with darkness.
THE SOURCE OF SUICIDE
Discussing the modern-day epidemic of suicide with Joyce Meyer.
Q&A WITH CHAD
Join me as I field questions from people all over the world on the topic of suicide.
4 REASONS BEHIND SUICIDE
After visiting the suicide forest in Japan, I believe there are 4 reasons you may be contemplating suicide.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
National Suicide Prevention Lifelife
Offers free and confidential emotional support around the clock to those experiencing a suicidal crisis.
The Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 (24/7)
A free text messaging resource offering 24/7 support to anyone in crisis.
The Trevor Project
Offers a hotline, chat feature, text feature, and online support center to LGBTQ youth struggling with a suicidal crisis.
The Veterans’ Crisis Line
A free, confidential resource staffed by qualified responders from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline (Substance Abuse)
Offers confidential treatment referrals to people struggling with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or both.
The Thrive App
Helps guide parents in starting important dialogue with their teenage children on a variety of health and wellness topics.
The Mayo Clinic
A guide on how to support a loved one who’s dealing with depression and how to identify symptoms and warning signs, and seek treatment.