Silas
Beloved of All
Thank you for letting us know about this heavy burden. We have been praying for you, and we want you to know that God sees the depth of this pain. When depression feels so deep and thoughts of ending life come, it can feel like darkness is covering everything and there is no way out.
Scripture begins by describing the earth as without form and empty, with darkness over the surface of the deep, but it also says the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. That picture matters for you. God does not create emptiness and waste to leave it that way. Even where there is darkness and confusion, His Spirit is present, ready to bring order, light and life. He is able to speak light into darkness, and He has not abandoned you in this dark place.
The psalmist describes what you may be feeling so well when he says deep calls to deep, and all of God's waves and billows have gone over me. It is the feeling of being overwhelmed and drowning. Yet in that same psalm he adds, the Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song will be with me, a prayer to the God of my life. Even when the waves feel high, God has not stopped His lovingkindness toward you.
Hopelessness is at the root of depression, the sense that there is no way out and nothing can change. The prophet Jeremiah wrote a lament where he said, I am the man who has seen affliction, and he described himself as being in the lowest pit. That is as low as a person can get. But then there was a sudden turn, and he explained why. He said, This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. It is because of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions do not fail. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness. The way out began when he took his thoughts off of himself and his circumstances and set his mind again on the character of the Lord.
Our thoughts are powerful. We can think ourselves deeper into despair and hopelessness, and we can also, by God's grace, renew our minds by remembering who He is and what He has promised. That does not mean the pain is not real, but it means we learn to speak truth to ourselves rather than letting discouragement speak to us. Instead of rehearsing how bad things are, we remind ourselves of His mercy, His compassion that never fails, and His faithful love that is new today.
Job knew this kind of deep depression as well. In his suffering he cried out that he would never see good again. When we are in that dark place we can become convinced we will never feel well again and we make wrong judgments about the future because we cannot see ahead. Those feelings are understandable in suffering, but they are not the true measure of what God still has for you.
Down deep inside every person there is a thirst for a real relationship with God, and no physical thing can satisfy it. Trying to fill that thirst with other things only leaves us thirsty again. Only Jesus Christ can satisfy that deepest thirst and bring peace between you and God. Through His death and resurrection He offers forgiveness and new life to all who trust in Him. If you have not already, we encourage you to make sure things are settled between you and God by putting your trust in Jesus alone for salvation. And if you already belong to Him, remember that your life is held in His hands and He has not let go.
Please do not walk through this alone. In times of discouragement, defeat and depression, one of the most important steps is to get help and to let others come alongside you. Please reach out right away to a trusted pastor, a biblical counselor, a medical professional, or a crisis help line in your area, and tell someone close to you how you are feeling. If thoughts of suicide become strong, please seek immediate help and stay with someone you trust.
We are praying for you now. Father, we lift up this dear one who is in deep depression and is troubled by thoughts of suicide. You see the darkness and the depth of this pain, and Your Spirit hovers even over this place. Speak light into this darkness. Lift the weight of hopelessness and give a renewed hope in Your mercies which are new every morning. Help this one to set their mind on Your lovingkindness and faithfulness, to know Your presence in the night, and to feel Your song again. Satisfy the deep thirst of the heart with Yourself through Jesus Christ. Surround them with caring help, protect them from harm, and give them strength for today and assurance that they are held by You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
You are not forgotten. God is faithful, His compassion has not failed, and He is near to those who call upon Him. Please keep reaching out and let others pray with you and walk with you.
Scripture begins by describing the earth as without form and empty, with darkness over the surface of the deep, but it also says the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. That picture matters for you. God does not create emptiness and waste to leave it that way. Even where there is darkness and confusion, His Spirit is present, ready to bring order, light and life. He is able to speak light into darkness, and He has not abandoned you in this dark place.
The psalmist describes what you may be feeling so well when he says deep calls to deep, and all of God's waves and billows have gone over me. It is the feeling of being overwhelmed and drowning. Yet in that same psalm he adds, the Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song will be with me, a prayer to the God of my life. Even when the waves feel high, God has not stopped His lovingkindness toward you.
Hopelessness is at the root of depression, the sense that there is no way out and nothing can change. The prophet Jeremiah wrote a lament where he said, I am the man who has seen affliction, and he described himself as being in the lowest pit. That is as low as a person can get. But then there was a sudden turn, and he explained why. He said, This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. It is because of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions do not fail. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness. The way out began when he took his thoughts off of himself and his circumstances and set his mind again on the character of the Lord.
Our thoughts are powerful. We can think ourselves deeper into despair and hopelessness, and we can also, by God's grace, renew our minds by remembering who He is and what He has promised. That does not mean the pain is not real, but it means we learn to speak truth to ourselves rather than letting discouragement speak to us. Instead of rehearsing how bad things are, we remind ourselves of His mercy, His compassion that never fails, and His faithful love that is new today.
Job knew this kind of deep depression as well. In his suffering he cried out that he would never see good again. When we are in that dark place we can become convinced we will never feel well again and we make wrong judgments about the future because we cannot see ahead. Those feelings are understandable in suffering, but they are not the true measure of what God still has for you.
Down deep inside every person there is a thirst for a real relationship with God, and no physical thing can satisfy it. Trying to fill that thirst with other things only leaves us thirsty again. Only Jesus Christ can satisfy that deepest thirst and bring peace between you and God. Through His death and resurrection He offers forgiveness and new life to all who trust in Him. If you have not already, we encourage you to make sure things are settled between you and God by putting your trust in Jesus alone for salvation. And if you already belong to Him, remember that your life is held in His hands and He has not let go.
Please do not walk through this alone. In times of discouragement, defeat and depression, one of the most important steps is to get help and to let others come alongside you. Please reach out right away to a trusted pastor, a biblical counselor, a medical professional, or a crisis help line in your area, and tell someone close to you how you are feeling. If thoughts of suicide become strong, please seek immediate help and stay with someone you trust.
We are praying for you now. Father, we lift up this dear one who is in deep depression and is troubled by thoughts of suicide. You see the darkness and the depth of this pain, and Your Spirit hovers even over this place. Speak light into this darkness. Lift the weight of hopelessness and give a renewed hope in Your mercies which are new every morning. Help this one to set their mind on Your lovingkindness and faithfulness, to know Your presence in the night, and to feel Your song again. Satisfy the deep thirst of the heart with Yourself through Jesus Christ. Surround them with caring help, protect them from harm, and give them strength for today and assurance that they are held by You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
You are not forgotten. God is faithful, His compassion has not failed, and He is near to those who call upon Him. Please keep reaching out and let others pray with you and walk with you.
