I was lying on my bed one night when the phone rang. A moment later my mom walked up the stairs and the first words out of her mouth were, “We need to pray.”
She told us that one of my best friends was severely depressed and had left the house saying he wanted to kill himself.
As I lay there praying silently, I asked, God…please save him. Lord, I don’t want to live without my best friend. Please don’t let him do this, God.
Then I decided to do something I couldn’t remember the last time I’d done: get down on my knees and pray hard. As I did so, I pleaded desperately for God to save my friend. To deliver him from his thoughts that he wasn’t important on this earth.
Lord, I prayed, if I have to stay up all night long praying to save him, I’ll do that. A half an hour later the phone rang again, and my mom came up the stairs to tell me that my friend had returned home. I felt a peace from God that said he would be okay that night.
I didn’t stay up all night praying since my friend returned home, but if that’s what it would have taken—I would have done it. As hard as I prayed that night, God showed me more than anything that it was time for me to really want to make a difference.
On September 10, National Suicide Prevention Day, (a few days before the above story) I wrote a blog post called Save a Life. Has it kept thousands from committing suicide? Probably not. But what it did do is fuel my passion to help people.
Although I love people very much, and hurt worse when they’re in pain than when I am, I used to simply pray “God, help this person know they’re loved” when he was calling me to tell them they were loved.
But lately, my prayer is, “God, help me inspire others and be bold.”
Before I go further, here are some facts on suicide:
- On average, there are 123 suicides every day.
- More guys commit suicide than girls, but girls try twice as much as guys.
- A lot of those suicides start with depression or anxiety.
I don’t know about you, but that breaks my heart.
So I want to tell you 5 reasons why you are important and why suicide is not the answer.
1. Because God Knows You
Think of your favorite things in the world. Your favorite animal. Your favorite weather. Your favorite color. All of those things were created by God. So were you!
Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Before we were even alive, God knew us. He already had us in his plans before our parents had us in theirs. Before we were born he consecrated us. God thought we were sacred enough to declare us his own. He appointed us to be prophets to the nations, to go out and speak the gospel. He not only wants us to know we are loved; he wants us to speak for him.
But what do we reply to God?
Jeremiah 1:6 continues, “Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.’”
Sometimes it feels like society views us as worthless. Oh, they’re only a kid, they don’t really matter. Often we even view ourselves as worthless!
But that’s not what God says: “But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.” (Jeremiah 1:7)
2. Because God Wants You
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Roman’s 12:1)
God wants us to give our lives to serve him. God wants us, instead of asking “What do I want in life?” to ask God, “What do you want for my life?”
3. Because God Chose and Adopted You
“Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” (Ephesians 1:4-5)
God has chosen us before the foundation of the world. He has adopted us to himself through Jesus Christ.
God wants you. He chose you. He adopted you. You’re priceless in his eyes.
4. Because You Aren’t Perfect
Why is the truth of our imperfection a reason for our value and importance and proof that suicide isn’t the answer? Because it’s true—no one is perfect. The world today looks at everyone like they need to be perfect. To have their makeup perfect, to walk perfect, and wear perfect clothes. But who can ever measure up to those standards?
The truth is that God finds beauty in our imperfections. Yes, that’s right, he finds worth in our flaws.
“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27)
We might not be wise, but God has chosen us.
We might not be strong, but God has chosen us.
We might not be wise, but God has chosen us. We might not be strong, but God has chosen us. Share on X2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. So we should allow God’s strength to help us in our areas of weakness, so that others can see God’s strength in us.
5. Because You were Made to be Different
Romans 12:2 challenges, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
God wants us to be different—not to be like this world, but to be transformed. If we know we are God’s, then we are different than the rest of the world.
It is time for us to step out.
It is time for us to reach out.
It is time for us to step out. It is time for us to reach out. Share on XWe need to take action, instead of waiting on someone else to stand up, we must stand first.
Whether encouraging a homeless girl on the street, or simply telling your best friend how much they mean to you, show others the love that you’ve wanted to feel yourself.
We need to show others that there are already too many suicides in this world.
It is time to love and to be loved.
And God is calling us to tell others about his love.
I once heard a quote that said:
“God doesn’t call the qualified—He qualifies the called.”
You don’t have to be perfect to impact someone.
So make a difference. Love, serve, give.
Find your passion and let God use it.
Pray for one another.
Love one another
Love God.
Suicide isn’t the answer, but God is.
