SUICIDE – THE SILENT KILLER

Have you noticed that the Spirit of Suicide appears to be abounding in the earth?
This Spirit is not only in the world but increasing in the Church. The enemy is fighting God’s chosen, and depression is overwhelming them and making them feel like they want to die. Unfortunately, some believers in desperation have taken their own life leaving family and friends feeling despair, grief, failure, anger, and confusion. With this in mind, I have given the title of this blog, “Suicide – The Silent Killer” because people who commit suicide or have suicidal ideations are doing it quietly and alone. Regrettably, they are not sharing their thoughts, emotional pain, turmoil, and shame with others. They are suffering alone without help, and that is why we have the increasing mortality statistics.

Merriam-Webster defines suicide as the act or an instance of taking one’s own life voluntarily and intentionally. Marcia Purse, in her article “What Is Suicidal Ideation?” defines suicidal ideation as wanting to take your own life or thinking about suicide. Additionally, she states, “There are two kinds of suicidal ideation: passive and active. Passive suicidal ideation occurs when you wish were dead or that you could die, but you don’t actually have any plans to commit suicide. Active suicidal ideation, on the other hand, is not only thinking about it but having the intent to commit suicide, including planning how to do it.”

It has been researched, and recorded suicide and suicidal ideation cuts across socio-economic status, gender, race, and age; no one is exempt. Given the right situation and feelings of hopelessness, anyone can be affected. The American Foundation of Suicide Prevention gave the following 2017 report on suicide. It stated, “Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the US. In 2017, 47,173 Americans died by suicide, and in 2017, there were an estimated 1,400,000 suicide attempts.”

If you read the Bible, you will realize thoughts of suicide, and the act of suicide is not a new occurrence. Moses (Numbers 11:11-15; 32:31-31), Job (Job 3,7,10), Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-4), Jonah (Jonah 4:2-3), and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:14-18) had thoughts of suicide. Samson (Judges 16:29-30), King Saul (1 Samuel 31:4-5), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18) and Judas (Matthew 27:3-5) carried out the act of suicide.

Today I am grateful for supportive church programs, 911, online forums, suicide hotlines, hospital emergency services, concerned family members, and trained counselors that are available to all those that need help. Moreover, though the Spirit of Suicide is prevalent in the land, for believers, I declare it will be a defeated foe for we have God and His Word to sustain and keep us. Thus, I close this blogs with words of encouragement to you:

Psalms 34:17-20 – [The righteous] cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

Psalms 50:15 – And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalms 118:17 – I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

Isaiah 41:10 – Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

John 10:10 – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.