There's Help...

Late last night as I was about to prepare myself for bed, someone really close to me was pressed upon my heart. Though I clearly heard the Lord telling me to check on my friend, because I had a pounding headache and was feeling very drained, I decided that I'd just say a prayer for her and make contact the following morning.

Within a matter of seconds after praying for my friend, I noticed the indicator light blinking on my phone.  I had a text message.  When I opened it, my heart sank.  It was a message from my friend saying that she wanted her life to be over, and was struggling with harming herself, and worse, taking her own life.  She's been in a vicious fight for a really long time, and sometimes she feels that the pain and torment in her mind is too much to handle.  She has a hard time believing that her life will ever be more than what it is right now.

I immediately began to go into warfare for my friend, and did all I could to convince her to hold on.  Thankfully, she did not succomb to the demons in her mind, and made it through a very difficult moment.  God is a keeper.

There are so many people out there like my friend, who are so overwhelmed by life's problems that they feel they may be better off dead.  That's a lie from the enemy.  God desires that you live, and abundantly so. (John 10:10)

I recently wrote an article in EEW Magazine about how our problems are not meant to be the death of you, and how we must declare that we will not die, but live. (Psalm 118:17) 

But what do you do when the pain is too much?  When the demons in your mind are so loud?  When the more you pray the worse you feel?  When the tears won't stop, and nothing seems to help? When you want to cut yourself to relieve the pain?  When you struggle with commiting suicide? When you want to drink the hurt away? When you want to go to sleep and never wake up? When there's so much anger bottled up inside of you that you want to hurt someone else?  What do you do?

You know, as Christians, we're taught to "take your burdens to the Lord, and leave them there." We're taught to pray about our problems, our struggles, our issues, and just trust the Lord to heal, deliver, and set free. Although Jesus is indeed our "Balm in Gilead", and is well capable of healing any and every manner of sickness and disease (Physically or Psychologically), I believe there are times when He extends His grace through tangible sources. There are Doctors, Counselors, Psychiatrists, and Psychologists that He anoints to aid us in working through our problems.

I firmly believe in the power of prayer, because I've seen it work in my life.  But you know what, although I never sought "professional help" to help me work through my issues, the Lord definitely led me to people that I could talk to, and were ordained by Him to assist me in tackling my demons.

By ALL means, pray and trust God. But, there is help beyond the pulpit; beyond the altar; beyond your prayer closet.  And if you find that the things that torment you are extremely overwhelming, and you struggle with thoughts of suicide, or abuse to yourself or others, it's perfectly okay to seek help. God is such a big God, and He's not limited in the ways He helps us.

Christians struggle.  Christians are self-harming.  Christians are abusing others.  Christians are commiting suicide.  But there's help, and there's hope.  Don't be ashamed or afraid to ask for it.

There are resources available.  If you can't find any at your local church, or in your area, I've listed a few below:
Suicide Prevention
Domestic Violence Hotline
Crisis Hotline (Drug & Alcohol)

If you need help, pray and ask the Lord to lead you to a Christian professional who will be beneficial in helping you to work through whatever your problem(s) may be.

I don't know who this is for, but the subject of suicide has been so pressed upon my heart lately.  I don't know who you are, where you are, or how tough your struggle is, but God does. Your life is so valuable to Him; you are valuable to Him.

Lord, today I pray for those struggling with harming themselves, or commiting suicide. I pray that you'd give them peace in their minds, and help them find healthy ways of coping with the demons that consume their thoughts.  Lord, help them to see their value in you, and assure them that there is no pain you are incapable of healing.  Comfort them, and wrap them in your loving arms.  I bind the spirit of death that hovers over them, and I declare that they shall live and not die. If they need help beyond their prayers and faith, I ask that you'd lead them to kind-hearted, compassionate, God-loving professionals that will act as your mouthpiece, and help to bring healing in their lives.  I thank you in advance for preserving their lives, and leading them along the path to victory. In Jesus' name. Amen.

~May you live in His love.~