Look Here For Hope

April 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment

help me God, suicide, the suicidal, help, facts, prevention, your problems, survivor’s guilt, survivor stories, and the loss of a loved one — as well as info for anyone thinking about suicide, suicde.Welcome! We have helps, statistics, and hope, just for you with comprehensive resources that discuss suicide, the suicidal, help, facts, prevention, your problems, survivor’s guilt, survivor stories, and the loss of a loved one — as well as info for anyone thinking about suicide. As we create articles on different aspects of depression, you may find some to be more meaningful to you than others. If you leave a comment, someone on Our Team will respond with a follow-up comment here on this site, when able.  We offer encouragement from personal experience points of view, so urge you to seek counseling if you need professional help. (See our disclaimer.)

If you are contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). We also hope you will find hope and encouragement here on our site. If you have lost a loved one to suicide, our desire is to help you through that pain and loss to a brighter future through the articles below.

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How to Stop Cyberbullying

July 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 How can parents help stop cyberbullying before it starts? If you’re a teen, how can you prevent this dangerous virus from spreading?

 

 

Cyberbullying is like a virus that spreads from one person to another though comments, photos or videos texted on a cell phone, or by hurtful messages entered into a social media outlet. This virus needs a cure because as it spreads from host to victim – it causes not only depression, but can lead to suicide. You can help stop cyberbullying!

I’ve listed a few cures for this deadly virus below.

Parents Can Stop Cyberbullying:

 

If you’re a parent, talk to your kids about the dangers of cyberbullying others because there’s a 50 percent chance that your child has participated. I know this may be hard to believe, but even sweet, wonderful kids have been known to cyberbully, especially when they are caught up in peer pressure. So even if you think your kids don’t participate in cyberbullying, talk to them. Let them know that cyberbullying is wrong and that it can cause permanent harm or death to the one being bullied.  Discuss Psalms 19:14:

 May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and and redeemer.

One concerned youth group in Oklahoma took this message to heart and created thumb bands to wear that read WWJTXT?  (What would Jesus text?)  Consider getting one of these thumb bands for your child, his class, or youth group. For more information on these bands, go to:  wwjtxt.com

Another thing to discuss is that bullies can reap more than a few penalties. For example, criminal charges can incur, phone companies can void phone contracts, online privileges can be terminated by providers, and worse yet, if sexting is involved, your child can be permanently labeled as a sex offender.

Consider getting your child or youth group a graphic help, to make them think before they post something that might hurt others.

Pray: 

Dear Lord, show me the truth in this matter when it comes to my kids, break any lies off of them, whether they are bullying or whether they are being bullied, in the power and authority of the name and the blood of Jesus.  Protect my child and grant them peace, grace and favor, in Jesus’s name.

Also, when you talk to your child, find out if your child is being bullied because there’s also a 50 percent chance this has or could happen. Read  the recommendations below so you’ll know what to do if you find out this is happening to your child.

Pray:

Dear Lord, please don’t let evil words or images stick to my child and become their identity.  In fact, I cancel any of these lies, the cyberbullying, as well as depression, or spirit of suicide, off my child in the power and authority of the name and blood of Jesus.  Lord, I ask that you replace these things, with your love, joy, peace and favor, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

How Those Who Participate in  Cyberbullying can Stop:

A lot of children are involved in cyberbullying because of (1.) peer pressure or (2.) because they don’t realize the harm they are doing.  But then again, maybe they need a few ideas on how to stop:

  1. If you write a mean message, don’t hit send.
  2. Better yet, don’t write the mean message to start with.
  3. Don’t spread the cyberbullying virus by participating in a bully attack, even if all  of your best friends are involved.
  4. Ask God to give you guidance on how to avoid these situations and to give you a way out.
  5. Memorize Psalm Psalms 19:14, see above.
  6. Get the wwjtxt? thumb band to remind you to be careful what you text or post.
  7. Pray this:

Dear Lord, Forgive me for being mean. I now block and cancel the hate, harm, and lies that I have spread in the power and authority of the name and the blood of Jesus.  I block and cancel the fear as well as any retaliation I may get for taking this stand to stop.  Please give me your strength to stand strong, Lord.  In Jesus name, Amen.

 

If you are being bullied, please refer to our article about what to do: Click HERE.

Watch this great video as a serious example of the virus Cyber Bullying and it’s disease-like effect below:

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Max Lucado Shares Words of Hope to Depressed and Suicidal

June 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Max Lucado Shares Words of Hope with Readers of Thinking About Suicide

Max Lucado shares words of hope to depressed and suicidal

When I told pastor and bestselling author, Max Lucado about our website, Thinking About Suicide, I asked him if had any words of hope to the depressed and suicidal.  He replied, “The message of grace is so important for those who are in tough times because it takes the burden off of the person and places the burden on God. Grace says that salvation and strength is God based, God given, God driven. Every other religion and philosophy in the world says that it’s up to us to get God’s attention or to win God’s favor—but grace says, ‘No! You already have God’s attention. You already have God’s favor.’

“Those who are passing thought times of despair feel as though they can relate to the orphan because they feel like nobody really cares. But the theme of grace is that God does not just pat us on the back, he gives us a place at his table. He gives us his name, he brings us into his family because he has adopted us. His act of adopting us once and for all declares–I must be worth something. I must have hope and a future.”

I asked, “How can we learn to trust that God’s grace is for us?”

Max Lucado's Grace, More than we Deserve Greater than we Imagine, Due out September 2012, Thomas Nelson

Max replied, “First of all, we have to understand, Linda, what grace means and how it’s articulated in the Bible. We have to wrestle with this whole economy that we are sinners, we need a savior, and that we have one in Jesus Christ who is sufficient to cover our eternal needs.”

“Then, what’s the best way a person can experience God’s grace in their everyday life?”

“I think that one of the underutilized disciplines of faith is confession. After 30 years as a pastor, I believe most people carry around unresolved guilt; a regret, a stumble, a failure—and they’ve never talked to God about it. Satan uses this guilt, Linda, because the commodity of Satan is condemnation. Satan wakes up every day wanting to figure out a way to make us feel guilty. The Bible calls him the accuser and his goal is to condemn us and to create within us a feeling of condemnation.”

“So what’s the solution, Max?”

“If we could learn to quickly confess, ‘Lord, I’m sorry for what I did. I accept your grace,’ then we would live in a state of confession, not in a state of guilt.  To live in a state of receiving this forgiveness of God, all you have to say is, ‘Lord, I’m sorry, please forgive me.’ “Then, confess specifically what you did; ‘I looked at a woman in the wrong way, I spoke out of turn.’”

Max explained, “On the days I really apply this, I find myself practicing dozens of confessions of hour. But it’s not a sense in which I’m just beating myself up, it’s a nonstop conversation that takes place in the back of my mind, between God and me and it’s so liberating!

“Then there’s the issue of these deep seated bad choices,” Max continued, “choices that we made years ago that have never been dealt with.  Many people need to go back and have a good talk to God about that. About the night or the time in the back seat of a car, or with the drugs or the abortion. Some of these major issues that we’ve never really let God forgive.”

It’s time to receive God’s forgiveness.  Watch Max tell an illustrated story about how to let God forgive as he shares words of hope to the depressed and suicidal:

You may also be interested in Max’s books, including the one that led to my interview with him;  Grace, More than we Deserve    Greater than we Imagine, coming September, 2012.

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I Am Getting Bullied

April 24, 2012 by 2 Comments
Perhaps you’ve one of thousands of people who  typed, “I am getting bullied’ into your search engine these last 30 days because you’re tired of the name calling, the abuse, and you don’t think you can take it another day.  I understand how you feel,  and I want you to know there is hope for those who are being bullied.
First of all, not everyone hates you.  I don’t hate you (which is why I wrote you this note) and neither does God hate you, plus there are many people in your life who really do care about you.  Secondly, those names you’ve been called do not belong to you.  For instance, if I took a sticky note and stuck the word  ‘CAT’ onto a dog’s forehead –would that word turn the dog into a cat?  Of course not. 
So what should you do if someone called you a name and now you start to believe you are that name?  Don’t own it.  Those names do not describe who you are at all.  In fact, I  have a BIG ERASER named love and I’m erasing that name(s) off of you right now.  And do you know what I see beneath those false labels?  I see you–a real and wonderful person. That’s why those labels cannot stick.  Would you be interested to know that God has other labels or words to describe you?
God’s labels for you are 
precious, loved, beautiful, smart, full of promise, a miracle, and wonderful.
Seriously! That’s how God sees you, and that’s how I see you too.   ; )
I’m so sorry you are being bullied, and it hurts my heart to think that people have been cruel to you and know that I believe they were WRONG to do that to you.   But maybe it would cheer you up to read a few more things God has said about you:
  • You are my child.
  • I love you.
  • My son Jesus died on the cross  for you so you could have a relationship with me.
  • You are forgiven.
  • I am with you.
  • I will help carry your pain if you let me.  Just ask for my help!
  • Cast your burdens on me.
  • I will get you through this.  Just follow me, one step, one day at a time!
To learn more about how to have a closer relationship with God, click HERE.

Help Me I’m Being Bullied Song

Also watch this GREAT YouTube.  It’s a song called Who I Am by Katie Belle Atkin that tells what happened to her.
 
I love you!  And so do many others, even if you can’t ‘feel’ that love right at this moment or even if you believe that those terrible words spoken about you are true.  (THEY ARE NOT!)  However, if you are in danger of harming yourself, DON’T!  Don’t let the bullies win.
You are stronger than you know and you will get through this period of your life and you will find happiness and have friendships with people who are not bullies. You have hope and a future and I know God has a special plan for your life.  In fact, Jeremiah 29:11 says (from God to you,)  ”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)
If you need to talk to someone, call  please the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
I am glad you searched I Am Getting Bullied because it led you here.  I want you to know that we are praying for you and know that things WILL get better.  If I were sitting there with you, I would wrap you in my mom-arms, and tell you how much I care.
Here’s a prayer to break lying words off of you:
Dear Lord,
I break the lying words that people are saying about me off of me in the power and authority of the name and blood of Jesus.  I ask that you replace those words with the loving words you use to describe me; precious, loved, beautiful, smart, full of promise, a miracle, and wonderful.  Give me your power, strength and truth to believe your words instead of the lies.  Please block and cancel the lying words and thought of suicide off of me – in the power and authority of the name and blood of Jesus. Thank you for giving me a hope and a future.  In Jesus name, Amen.

In the mean time, please read the story of Liz – and how she found hope when she was being bullied.  Click HERE.
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Help When a Loved One Has Died: Depression in Funeral Planning

April 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment

By Liz Cowen Furman:

 Feeling grief and depression while funeral planning when a loved one has died?

 

As a writer, I am keenly aware that most of the people reading this will have recently experienced a profound loss. Let me first say I am so sorry for your loss. Times of loss have been some of the greatest tests of my faith. If  depression after the loss of a loved one has you thinking about suicide, please read on.

Remember that whatever you are feeling is exactly what you are supposed to be feeling. Nothing surprises GOD. No expression of pain, anger or despair you could muster is bigger than He can handle. So be honest with the One who has the power to heal your broken heart. Tell Him how you feel. Give Him permission to come in and heal what is broken and restore your heart to a healthy place once again.

Expressions of the grieving process are as varied as the people who are hurting. I encourage you to not let any person tell you how you should feel, even if you are thinking about suicide. Just know that although losing someone we love is painful, I discovered it won’t kill us.

Get help if you are having suicidal thoughts. (1-800-273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline).

Be patient with yourself. Take time to process the pain your heart is experiencing. That pain sometimes even manifests itself in the physical. Don’t rush the process. After experiencing significant loss it can take a couple years before you start to feel “normal.” Depending on the loss you may never go back to “normal” but you will heal and live in your “new normal.”

Even though you may be thinking about suicide now, if you can hold on and not let yourself go there, eventually you can find beauty from the ashes that currently haunt you.

If you can get outside in the sunshine, go for a walk, get some fresh air, even if you have to force yourself out the door the first time. Getting out into the light and moving can really help; has been proven to help, according to an article at health.harvard.edu. on exercise and depression.

For more suggestions of things that may help, read the grief chapters in my book How to Plan a Funeral and Other Things You Need to Know When a Loved One Dies.  While writing it I experienced more than one significant loss and did two years of research on the grieving process. I found many great books and ideas of things to do that helped me in my grief, many are included in the book.

Jesus said, Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28, NASB Bible.

In a time of grieving it is His strength that can see us through. Check out this song that so aptly puts it…

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Thinking About Suicide? You are Loved

April 16, 2012 by 3 Comments

By Deborah Lovett:

Joyce Meyers refers to it as Stinkin’ thinkin’. That is when you are thinking about suicide that steals the joy not only from yourself, but from those who love you.

Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy of your own soul saying you are ruined and unloved, and other various things that stand to destroy your life. Satan is a bluffer, and he does not get the last word!

That kind of thinking can eventually lead to suicide if it gets worse and is not stopped. Ask God to help you reverse your thought process by showing you some things you can be thankful for.  Turn on some praise music in order to start the reversal process right now.

If you can find a Bible you can find God. If you can find a phone and call the suicide hotline, you can find someone who wants to talk to you about your problems, which could be God’s intervention.

You see, in May 2008 my sister took her own life because she forgot she was loved by so many. She replayed the video of the lies of the enemy that reminded her she had lost everything: her children, her husband, her home, her job, and her reputation over and over.

That kind of stinkin’ thinkin’ can make you crazy. She had no idea of the aftershocks that would occur after she died. If she could have known how much we were to suffer because of losing her, I know she would never have wanted to hurt us that much. It has been like a tsunami whose waves of grief never end.

I don’t know why my sister made the horrible decision to give up, but I do know that God tried to get to her to stay by sending someone that offered to take her to church the same day. The lady said, “I knocked and she never answered.” My sister chose not to answer the door. There is always a choice.

If you are thinking about trying to take your own life, remember that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem that the devil wants you to believe is a permanent problem with no solution, which is actually a lie from the pit of hell. Yes, you may have problems, but believe me my God is in the miracle making business and the worst situations are not even a challenge for Him.

Take Jesus for example; they spit on him, whipped him, crucified him, and it looked absolutely hopeless. Yet three days later God raised him from the dead.

I know, I know, you are thinking but that was JESUS. Well, listen up: God does not play favorites. If you will give God three days of life, (we have been commanded not to murder) just three sunrises, I believe He will intervene in your life someway, somehow. All you need to do is listen, submit to His voice, and open the door when He knocks or sends someone to your door. Not sure you are hearing him? Give him another three days. And another!

You can  choose to not replay the video of darkness in your head over and over. As hard as it is to believe, you can choose to restart your life and begin to think about how God wants to actually bless you. Not only does He want to bless you, He has blessings waiting on you! You can begin by saying the name of Jesus, because the Word of God says there is POWER in the name of Jesus.

So if you are thinking about suicide, find God instead. Life, blessing, and a new life will follow if you will only believe and have the faith the size of a mustard seed.

I don’t know you, but I want you to know you are not alone. God is with you and I love you even though I have never met you. I really do!

You see, love is not based on what you do or don’t do. It is based on the command to love your neighbors just as Jesus loved us.

I am begging you not to hurt those you love, or yourself. Let the sun come up another day. Reach out, call someone, open a Bible, go to church, call your doctor, go to the hospital, do anything BUT stinkin’ thinkin’. The devil has taken enough from you already, don’t give him the satisfaction of your life too. God wants you to live and He has a purpose and plan for it. Just believe.

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Finding Hope After Thinking About Suicide

March 31, 2012 by 1 Comment

by Liz Cowen Furman

I had lost all hope.

I was laying on my bed in a fetal position; my tears spent. I felt things could never get better because of all the lies being told about me, and those I loved believed them.  Worse still, this was a problem I’d helped create. I was desperately depressed and I felt guilty, angry and SAD.

I found myself thinking about suicide. That would show them, I thought.

I contemplated ways I could die, but each idea met with the fear that my attempt would backfire, leaving me maimed, ill, or paralyzed.  Paralyzed?

I couldn’t think of any other options. I stared into space, breathing shallow. My mind was fuzzy, befuddled, but in a desperate last effort I whispered to GOD.

Please GOD, What is the point here? I can’t face this. I can’t do this anymore. Bring me home. I love you, I need you, I’ve blown it so badly You might not want me anymore, but I am asking You to come near to me and help me. Please don’t leave me here alone. I don’t want to be alone. I am not brave enough to commit suicide. No one on earth cares about me any more. Can’t I just come home now?”

As I lay there wishing for Him to let me die, the oddest thing happened. A scripture I hadn’t thought of in years began running through my head; Joshua 1:5:

 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Then came Isaiah 43:1-4

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; 
I have summoned you by name; you are mine…

In that moment, I had the oddest sensation that I was being cradled in someone’s lap. I began to think, I am NOT thinking about suicide anymore. I will not let them win. I will just hold my head up and teach them that I am not that easily killed. I had no idea where the new courage came from. I still dreaded facing what was ahead, but a glimmer of hope began to burn and where there is hope, there is a way.

And now 26 years later, I am so thankful GOD didn’t grant my request to die.

If you are thinking about suicide, and you don’t go through with it, I suspect in a few years, months, or even days, you’ll be grateful to be alive too.

If you are thinking about suicide check out this video of a great song that JESUS often calls to my mind at the very moment I need it most.

 In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.  Psalm 18:6.

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