(from the Senior Pastor)
Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the
elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; and
they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor. Then
when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt
remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and
elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they
said, "What is that to us? See to that yourself!" And he threw the
pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and
hanged himself. Matthew 27:1-10 (NASB)
The story of
Judas is one of the saddest in the Bible.
So close to forgiveness and grace yet he could not get past his
hopelessness. Unfortunately, over 40,000
Americans die each year by suicide. It
is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.
We are going
to spend a couple of days taking a look at some important things to know about
suicide. Certainly it would be wonderful
if you never needed this information.
But in a hopeless world it seems we have more and more seeking a way
out.
Common misconceptions about suicide
- FALSE: People who talk about suicide won't really do it.
Almost everyone who commits or attempts suicide has given some clue or warning. Do not ignore suicide threats. Statements like "you'll be sorry when I'm dead," "I can't see any way out," — no matter how casually or jokingly said, may indicate serious suicidal feelings. - FALSE: Anyone who tries to kill him/herself must be crazy.
Most suicidal people are not psychotic or insane. They must be upset, grief-stricken, depressed or despairing, but extreme distress and emotional pain are not necessarily signs of mental illness. - FALSE: If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is
going to stop them.
Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about death, wavering until the very last moment between wanting to live and wanting to die. Most suicidal people do not want death; they want the pain to stop. The impulse to end it all, however overpowering, does not last forever. - FALSE: People who commit suicide are people who were unwilling to
seek help.
Studies of suicide victims have shown that more than half had sought medical help in the six months prior to their deaths. - FALSE: Talking about suicide may give someone the idea.
You don't give a suicidal person morbid ideas by talking about suicide. The opposite is true—bringing up the subject of suicide and discussing it openly is one of the most helpful things you can do.
Warning signs of
suicide
Most suicidal individuals give warning signs or signals
of their intentions. You may be the one
who can help someone. The best way to
prevent suicide is to recognize these warning signs and know how to respond if
you spot them. If you believe that a
friend or family member is suicidal, you can play a role in suicide prevention
by pointing out the alternatives,
showing that you care, and getting a doctor or psychologist involved.
Suicide Warning Signs – American Foundation for
Suicide Prevention:
If a
person talks about:
- Being
a burden to others
- Feeling
trapped
- Experiencing
unbearable pain
- Having
no reason to live
- Killing
themselves
Specific
behavior to look out for include:
- Increased
use of alcohol or drugs
- Looking
for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online for materials or
means
- Acting
recklessly
- Withdrawing
from activities
- Isolating
from family and friends
- Sleeping
too much or too little
- Visiting
or calling people to say goodbye
- Giving
away prized possessions
- Aggression
People
who are considering suicide often display one or more of the following moods:
- Depression
- Loss
of interest
- Rage
- Irritability
- Humiliation
- Anxiety
A subtler but equally dangerous warning sign of
suicide is hopelessness. Studies
have found that hopelessness is a strong predictor of suicide. People who feel
hopeless may talk about "unbearable" feelings, predict a bleak
future, and state that they have nothing to look forward to.
We are those who
carry a message of hope. Seeing the
signs, we next need to know what to do.
That will be our topic for tomorrow.
Scripture to Claim:
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He
alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My
salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in
him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our
refuge. Psalm 62:5-8
