Church, We Need To Talk About Suicide

September is Suicide Awareness Month.

But here’s the problem:

We don’t need another month of pretty graphics, statistics, and Christian clichés.

We need to start saving lives.

Because there are people sitting in our churches every Sunday who are dying on the inside while everyone around them keeps saying, “You look great!”

There are people worshiping with tears in their eyes who don’t know if they can make it through Monday.

There are men who have been taught their entire lives to “man up” who are terrified to admit they’re drowning.

There are women who are exhausted from pretending everything is okay.

There are teenagers terrified to tell anyone what is happening inside their heads.

And there are people who desperately need help who are afraid that if they tell the Church the truth, we’ll judge them instead of loving them.

CHURCH, THAT HAS TO CHANGE.

We cannot preach about grace on Sunday and shame broken people on Monday.

We cannot tell people that Jesus loves them and then make them feel like they have to hide their depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, addiction, or suicidal thoughts because they might be labeled as weak Christians.

Mental and emotional suffering does not make someone a bad Christian.

And getting professional help does not mean someone doesn’t trust God.

Sometimes faith looks like praying.

Sometimes faith looks like calling a counselor.

Sometimes faith looks like telling your pastor, “Brother, I am not okay.”

Sometimes faith looks like saying, “I need help.”

And sometimes God answers that prayer by sending another person to sit beside you in the darkness.

So Church…

STOP TRYING TO FIX EVERYBODY.

Start listening.

Stop throwing Bible verses at wounds you haven’t taken time to understand.

Stop telling hurting people to “just have more faith.”

Stop confusing spiritual encouragement with dismissing someone’s pain.

Jesus never asked us to pretend we aren’t hurting.

He asked us to love one another.

To carry one another’s burdens.

To weep with those who weep.

To bear one another’s burdens.

To be His hands and feet.

So what if this month we stopped asking:

“How are you?”

And started asking:

“How are you REALLY doing?”

And then—this is important—we actually stayed long enough to hear the answer.

Church, let’s become a safe place for hurting people.

A place where somebody can walk through the doors carrying their darkest thoughts and not be afraid that they’ll be judged.

A place where men can cry.

Where women can admit they’re exhausted.

Where teenagers can speak honestly.

Where broken people don’t have to clean themselves up before coming inside.

Where people can say:

“I’m struggling.”

And the response isn’t condemnation.

It’s:

“Then you don’t have to walk through this alone.”

Because here’s the truth:

You might be sitting next to someone this Sunday who is considering suicide.

You might be the last person who has a chance to notice.

That conversation you’ve been putting off?

Make the call.

Send the text.

Sit down.

Listen.

Ask the hard question.

And if someone tells you they’re thinking about suicide, take them seriously and help connect them with immediate, qualified support.

Don’t assume they’ll “get over it.”

Don’t leave them alone in an immediate crisis.

Don’t make promises you can’t keep.

Stay with them and get help.

And to the person reading this who is secretly fighting for your life:

PLEASE DON’T LEAVE YET.

You don’t have to solve tomorrow tonight.

You don’t have to pretend you’re okay.

You don’t have to carry this by yourself.

Tell somebody.

Call somebody.

Get help.

Let somebody into the battle.

Your life is worth fighting for—even if you can’t feel that right now.

And Church…

Maybe our greatest revival won’t begin with a louder worship service.

Maybe it will begin when we become the kind of Church where hurting people finally feel safe enough to tell the truth.

Let’s stop being impressed by how good people look on the outside.

Let’s become people who are willing to walk into the mess.

Let’s stop preaching about Jesus and start showing people Jesus.

Because sometimes the most powerful sermon you’ll ever preach…

is simply refusing to walk away from someone who is hurting.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or feels in immediate danger in the United States, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Church, let’s be the reason somebody chooses to stay. ~OC