Don't Give Up

9/27/2023

Written By: April Mills

Note to the reader: This devotion covers the topic of suicide and suicidal ideation.

September is suicide awareness month. This is something I hold close to my heart, and all month, I thought about what I could write in this devotion that would be impactful to readers. I pored over statistics, reports, graphs, and articles until they all blurred together. It all brought me a conclusion that I already knew-mental illness affects millions and millions of people.

If you go to the Center of Disease Control and Preventions’ website, you will see that in 2021, 12.3 million people seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million made a plan, and 1.7 attempted suicide. The site also states that 48,183 people died by suicide in 2021. This is 1 death every 11 minutes. The facts are overwhelming. The amount of suffering is overwhelming.

The only thing I know to do in any devotion I write is to just be transparent. I have beloved family members that have struggled over the years with severe depression, and suicidal ideation. One made an attempt and was hospitalized. I consider it an act of God that they are still here with us. Some time has passed, but I remember all too well the moments that they revealed the depths of their pain.

I recall holding a family member as they wept, declaring they “just couldn’t do it anymore”. My heart was filled with overwhelming sadness, suffocating helplessness and a sheer terror. My gut told me this person’s endurance was wearing out, and they were standing on the edge of a dangerous precipice. They were doing all the right things.

They were receiving psychiatric care and consistently going to therapy. They had a safety plan in place. All medications, firearms, and anything you could think of was locked up. They were loved, cherished and supported by family. Despite all good efforts, the despair persisted. They had so many positives in their lives, but as we know, mental illness does not discriminate.

Eventually, after much hard work on their end, my family members came out of that season. They began to recover and grow into a time of stabilized mental health. It was a long, hard road. They continue to work at their mental health every day. Honestly, they are some of the strongest people I have ever met. I see the hand of God at work in their lives every day. He has preserved their lives. To watch Him faithfully and lovingly tend to them and lift them out of despair has been the most humbling experience of my life.

Friend, let me say this to you. If you have suffered from a mental illness-you are not alone. If you have experienced depression -you are not alone. If you have thought about suicide, even briefly, you are not alone. If you survived an attempt, let me say from my heart to yours, I am so thankful you are still here. I know it’s hard, and I recognize that “hard” doesn’t even begin to cover it.

But friend, let me tell you something else. There is a God in Heaven that loves and rejoices over you. You were uniquely created for this life. Your life has meaning and purpose. The gifts and talents you have are meant to impact the world around you. Your story is going to bring life to someone else.

The fingerprints of God have been pressed upon your life. The Lord of Hosts goes before you and all around you. He is for you. Your life matters to Him. He wants you to live, and He has more for you than what you are currently experiencing, so don’t give up. Don’t believe the lie that you won’t be missed, or life will be easier without you. It’s a lie designed to isolate and defeat you. Don’t give in. Keep pushing, one moment at a time.

It can be challenging to know how to help someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis. I know this, I could write an entire article on what not to do. If I could suggest anything, it would be to love them. It might take some vulnerability on your part, but let them know how loved they are and what their life means to you.

Listen to them, and be present. You don’t have to have all the answers or even understand what they are going through. Your presence is powerful. Check on them, and help them navigate resources. Pray for them. Be willing to approach the throne of grace and intercede fervently on their behalf. Pray as if their life depends on it.

Friend, I don’t have all the answers. All I know is what I have witnessed in my own life. This I know for sure; you are loved, you are of value, and you are important to His great design. Hold on, and keep going. Just keep going.

This scripture meant a lot to me during those uncertain days. I hope it helps you.

Psalm 27:13- I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living