“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16
Suicide; attempted suicide; assisted suicide: who would have thought that these dreaded subjects would be demanding so much of our attention these days?
I have had to grapple with the many questions which arise from suicide for many years now. The first funeral that I conducted at the beginning of my ministry, over 30 years ago at the age of 22, was that of a city councillor in Port Elizabeth who committed suicide.
This was followed by the tragic death by suicide just months later by a senior minister who was my dear study supervisor. These days I work with a number of folk affected by the death of loved ones through suicide or attempted suicide. My heart aches for them all, and again I echo the words of a song: ‘There are more questions than answers!’
One simply cannot answer the many questions that arise in such desperate and tragic situations. Often desperation, depression, despair and a sense of meaninglessness overwhelm one’s sense of reason and responses.
I strongly caution against talking too quickly and easily about a highly complex situation involving emotions much more intricate than most of us can even begin to understand. The human psyche and spirit are far beyond most of our understanding.
I even more strongly caution against passing any form of judgement and careless comments about any aspect of the situation, circumstances or people so tragically caught up in it all. It is never quite as simple as we think it is.
Remember to try to respect that no matter how wrong it may seem to you, it was the individual’s choice to do what they decided to do.
Spare a thought and much prayer for those affected and left behind. Whether or not a note was left behind, it is still somehow worse than death by accident or disease.
Our text for today reminds us all that no matter how dark and desperate things may be, there is spiritual recourse through prayer, counselling, Scripture reading and other means of grace whereby we can indeed receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. But please speak to someone and ask for professional or whatever other help you may need.
A PRAYER: Father God, thank You that Your Word assures us that we can confidently approach Your throne of grace.
We do that now, in the name of Jesus, Your Son, our Lord, especially for those affected by the deep, dark reality of suicide. Amen.
PS: I am encouraged by and endorse the initiative of the Courier, with the help of Psycho-Social Services of the Department of Education, in creating awareness about combating the spurt of teenage suicides which have agonised Dundee residents recently. I am further thinking of creating support groups for those affected by this. – Brother Daniel
