Suicide Uptick

Statistics released in the United States recently, reveal an uptick in its' suicide rates since the year 2000. This, just after a slew of celebrity suicides have occurred. However, a careful look at worldwide statistics reveal that suicide has touched all the nations of this world and some much more than the United States.

As I perused the many headlines and articles devoted to explaining the recent suicides of celebrities such as Kate Spade, and Anthony Bourdain, what was missing was any notion of a spiritual context. What has to happen spiritually to a person before they contemplate suicide? For one thing, they must feel existentially alone.

Feeling existentially alone is a process. It does not just happen.  Are we really alone? The answer to that is NO. It just feels that way some times, but we must resist that feeling and understand that this is a false reality that can change at any moment. Sometimes, we are isolated because of actions we have taken. Such was the case with Denic*.

Denic constantly complained about how awful his family was. He had come from a large family in the Ukraine but he always seemed to be squabbling with one or all of them. His sadness was terrible during holidays and his birthday. He felt misunderstood and rejected. Things got worse for Denic when the woman of his dreams broke off their relationship.

He was near emotional collapse. He felt that things could not possibly get better. Yet, he had simply got it all wrong. His family deeply loved him, as did his girlfriend. How could everything seem so wrong to Denic but not be as hopeless as he thought? The answer is as I have suggested; Denic was not seeing things as they really were.

The Bible first and foremost informs us that we must, think about our behavior. Specifically, Haggai 1:5-6 says: "Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink but never have your fill." This verse appears to have been written for Denic.

Something that we or Denic should remember when a relationship seems to take a turn for the worse is to ask ourself if we have been listening to what that person has communicated to us. A careful review of past conversations or arguments will usually reveal the problem. In Denic's case, those answers would go far to improving all his relationships.

You see, Denic had a bad habit of talking at people rather than to people. People in his life grew frustrated because they felt he never listened to them. He was bossy and domineering and often though he was smarter than everyone around him. He had attained his doctorate degree at the University and loved to shove that into arguments too.

None of us are perfect and when we see our professional or family relations go sour, we would do well to think of what we might do better. This requires being humble of course, but at the end of the day, please believe me, we would all be happier if we did this. Being Denic is so very hard. No one wants to play with the kid who never loses the game and how does Denic handle it when he inevitably fails? The answer is he goes into a deep depression. Is this what happened to Kate Spade or Anthony Bourdain? Perhaps.

We learn in the Bible that only God is perfect. We further learn that in our weakness God will show His strength and carry us through the situation. Why don't we just lean on God? I don't know about you, but it is such a relief to know that I don't have to be perfect.

It surprises many people how often the Bible references and discusses the circumstances of suicide. God in His infinite love and wisdom has given us His Holy Word the Bible to teach us and help us to have the right mindset on matters of life and death. Among other things that I have learned about suicide in the Bible is that it has a variety of causes : fear, guilt, depression, failure, illness and hopelessness.

Every cause of suicide is countered in the Bible with equal but opposite principles. Instead of fear we can gain strength from God. (Don't fear, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name; you are mine-Isaiah 43:1) Instead of guilt, we can know that when we turn our lives over to Jesus that our guilt and shame were taken by Him on the cross. (Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God- Hebrews 12:2)

In place of depression we can see God gives us comfort. (The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit- Psalm 34:18) There is healing spiritually, first and foremost but God also heals physically. (When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick-Matthew14:14) God gives us hope instead of hopelessness if only we will turn to him. (Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you, he will never let the righteous be shaken- Psalm 55:22.)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord- Romans 8:38-39.

*Names changed to protect the identity.