Daily devotion – Suicide
Psalm 18: For You will light my lamp; The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall.
The front page of the West Australian newspaper today (22 August 2023) tells a tragic story of another 17-year-old young man taking his own life. It’s heartbreaking news!
Suicide is THE leading cause of death for young Australians with 434 people aged 24 years and younger taking their own lives in 2021 alone!
For every suicide among young Australians, there are up to an additional 200 suicide attempts.
When one young person dies in this way, the impact hits up to 135 people on average, including family members, work colleagues, friends and first responders.
We are living in desperate and dark times that so often are overshadowed by our selfish lifestyles and reflect our moving away from God in these Last Days.
All families now it seems have been touched by either knowing someone in our own family or someone we knew. Over the last 20 odd years I have attended numerous homes where this dark tragedy has fallen.
Maybe as you read this devotion you have pondered such for your own life. The message from the psalmist comes ever so clearly: there is hope, for there is help; help to turn darkness into light, help to scale any wall or to stand in what may seem an everlasting wind that is constantly driving against you.
The Bible tells us that God is here to give you His hand, for you to reach for His strength in your time of need. We know this because Jesus rose from the dead. That is absolute, and that is light. The darkness of sin or despair is always removed from the glow of the light of the Resurrection of Jesus.
God works through us to pass on this gift of hope to others. God strengthens one hand to be strong for another who struggles.
A person in our own family, or Church, or neighbourhood is the one whose darkness can be turned into light as we share the hope Jesus gives!
Finding Light in Darkness: The imagery of God lighting a lamp and enlightening darkness suggests hope and guidance in challenging times. It reflects the idea that even in the darkest moments, God’s presence can bring light and clarity.
Overcoming Challenges: The passage also speaks of God’s empowerment to overcome obstacles. The ability to run against a troop or leap over a wall symbolizes the strength and courage that God provides, enabling us to face difficult situations head-on.
A Message of Hope: In the context of suicide, the message of hope is essential. Even when someone feels overwhelmed by darkness, God’s presence can provide the strength needed to face life’s challenges. The passage reminds us that God is not only with us but is also our source of strength.
Lord give each of us in our struggles, the help that only You can give, and help us in turn to strengthen those around us in their own struggles. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.