Pastor Shuffel Peter Hepburn is a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counsellor with the NCCA. Jeshurun Ministry and Pastor Shuffel P. Hepburn are not mental health professionals. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and are for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical and mental health advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or need immediate assistance, please contact a qualified mental health professional or call emergency services.
DISCLAIMER
THE FOLLOWING CONTENT CONTAINS SUICIDE OR SELF HARM TOPICS. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
A MESSAGE OF HOPE
From Pastor Shuffel P. Hepburn
Are you facing difficult life situations?
Do you feel like you need encouragement?
Are you thinking about harming yourself?
Are you being bullied by peers?
Are you being encouraged by a chatbot to commit suicide?
2 THINGS THAT WILL CARRY YOU THROUGH YOUR PRESENT, OR NEXT CRISIS:
The Lord has provided a clear path for you to have what He calls, “life,” and a path for you to have this, “glorious life more abundantly.” this is how He said it in John 10:10: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they (you) may have life, and that they (you) may have it more abundantly (that you may have it in abundance). Satan comes with wicked thoughts to destroy you. Christ came to give you joy and peace!
He also says He has some awesome plans for us, even though you may not be able to see it by what is going on around you. The verse is in Jeremiah 29:11, and speaks to all of us, no matter what you are going through:
(Amp)“I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well- being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. Then [with a deep longing], you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity], and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you!”
CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF YOUR LIFE BY CHANGING YOUR THOUGHTS.
Here is an incredibly amazing phenomenon: The direction of your life is determined by your strongest thoughts? Whatever is the strongest thought in your head is what you will do or try to do! So you must and can control your thoughts. I remember there was a specific point in my life when I learned how to control my thoughts! Here is how it works:
Our thoughts generate or create our feelings,
Then our feelings guides or dictates our behavior, telling us how to act or behave!
Our behavior or actions then reinforces what we had been thinking, and we think about it even more. The more we think about it the closer we come to doing something about what we have been thinking about!
This process creates a loop or a cycle, that goes around and around causing us to think more and more about something, and to feel more like doing it!
This happens not only in the case of negative thoughts or depressed feelings which can make us feel trapped in a going no-where-state of being! But we can turn this around by thinking better thoughts, making them the strongest thoughts in our head! Then we will do better! This is why Christ tells us that He has come so that we could have an abundant life. He wants us to think about this, more than anything else!
When our thoughts are negative the process can take us down! When our thoughts are positive it will take us up! We have the power to control our thoughts. You can take back the control of your thoughts.
READING GOD'S WORD CAN HELP YOU CONTROL YOUR THOUGHTS.
This connection between our thoughts and our behavior is why joy, peace and happiness can come from thinking good thoughts! And the Word of God can help us to gain control of our thinking process! And this is the reason God’s Word counsels us to think better thoughts. Therefore reading the Bible can give you control over your thoughts, so you can think thoughts of hope and thoughts of a happy life, then go out and do good things!
Here is what the Lord tells us in Philippians 4:8,9, “Finally my children, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God's Word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].”
The Lord tells us in Romans 12:2, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
These scripture encourages us to change our thoughts, because we have the power to do so! Never mind that it seems difficult when we are down, it will work if we ask God’s help! As you meditate on God’s Word it empowers you to change the way you think. Read God’s Word aloud, and you will begin to control your thoughts, and think the way the Lord wants you to think. When you start thinking that way, you will start behaving differently! You will be happier and more fulfilled!
In one motion this beautiful Word from the lips of God, knocks down every lie the enemy has raised up to deceive God’s children who may be depressed or having suicidal thoughts!
In fact, simply desiring God more than anything else, thinking about His love, and meditating on His Word, will change your life dramatically! It will change your thoughts, then it will change your behavior, and flood your life with true joy! Wonderful things will begin to happen if you study God’s Word every day, reading it aloud or audibly!
In ancient times, many in the world did not look at suicide as a sin, but after the teachings of Jesus Christ were revealed in the holy bible, some became aware that it was a sinful act committed against the commands of God our Creator, who sacrificed His Only Son Jesus, so that you and I may live. The good news is that these are not your thoughts! Do not own them! Today some experts also look at suicide as a mental disorder. I prefer taking a kinder, gentler approach.
Will God ever forgive a suicide? Can suicide ever not be a sin? There have been many debates about this question, and debates will continue. Some believe that if someone is saved, if they claim to be a born-again Christian, even if they commit suicide, they will still go to heaven. It would be great if this was true! Some Christian churches teach this, but my studies have not convinced me that this is true! Since no one is absolutely clear about this, I suggest not taking this risk!
ARE YOU AT A FORK IN THE ROAD OF LIFE AND YOU DO NOT KNOW WHICH WAY YOU SHOULD GO?
Please forgive me this over simplification. I am very sympathetic to the challenges faced by anyone troubled by suicidal thoughts. Therefore, I prefer to look at a person having suicidal thoughts as, an individual arriving at a major fork in the road of life. Desperately feeling that things will never get better, the individual is faced with a choice of whether to take the road that leads to life or to take the road that leads to death. At this point there is an intense struggle, because at times they are tempted to choose life, at other times they are tempted to end it all. When this struggle is influenced by an evil Chatbot, a person or an evil spirit, enticing them to choose death this becomes very dangerous!
PERSONS WHO TRIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE BUT DID NOT DIE AND CAME BACK SAID JUST AFTER TAKING THE ACTION THEY REGRETTED IT!
I will tell you why I suggest looking at this very complicated issue this way. There are many reports of people who have had near death experiences. Some of these persons chose suicide, and practically died, but miraculously, the Lord brought them back to life. Many of these persons have said that after committing suicide, they immediately came to the realization that they had taken the wrong road, they realized they had made the wrong choice. And their eyes were opened to the fact that they really wanted to live instead, but it was now too late! Many of them are thankful to have miraculously been given a second chance to get it right. This is the gesture of a merciful God, who snatched them out of the jaws of the lion! Perhaps the Lord sent them back to warn others, to choose life instead of death!
ALWAYS CHOOSE LIFE!
Choosing life is always the best alternative, even though it may not feel that way today! This feeling can and will change over time. Unfortunately feelings are sometimes fickle and unreliable. There is scientific evidence out there, that says, if a depressed person patiently waits it out, if they hang in there long enough, they will eventually come to the place where they are no longer depressed!
This is a miracle from God, a way out established by God, because depression will eventually heal on its own. I have seen this with my own eyes more than once! However, they will still need to get Godly help, otherwise the depression may return. We must always get to the root cause of our issues, so that we are able to eradicate the problem completely!
DISTRACTING YOURSELF WILL HELP GET RID OF SUICIDE THOUGHTS
Here is how it is recommended that you deal with suicidal thoughts: Simply distract yourself! You may find it difficult or even impossible to get away from your suicidal thoughts or why you feel the way you do. If you focus on these thoughts, they may become stronger, and even more difficult to cope with. The best thing therefore, is to try to do things that will distract you. Reading the Word of God may be the most powerful distraction. Or it is suggested you think about what you enjoy doing most. Focus on that if it is healthy activity!
HOW TO GET HELP!
Do not wait for someone to notice: If your struggle persists, please do not wait for someone to reach out to you, perhaps no one may have noticed your struggle. It is not that no one cares Seek spiritual guidance from a qualified Christian counselor, guidance counselor, your pastor or a truly wise trusted friend who believes in Jesus Christ! This person should be someone who has been through something and has prevailed.
Call the suicide hotline in your country. Be brave and tell them about your suicidal thoughts. The experts say it is a good idea to try to, handle yourself in this situation, the way you would advise someone else who you felt was in need of your help.
[FOR HELP: In the Bahamas 242)322-2763 or 422-2763; free calls in the US call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org there are other #’s also; from anywhere in the world call: Samaritans @ 116 123]
If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, you should seek out wise help as soon as possible. Especially if the behavior is new and unusual for yourself or for this person, and it has even increased recently.