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SUICIDE PREVENTION AND INFORMATION PAGE

In Crisis? Need Help? Call 1-800-SUICIDE
The National Hopeline Network provides access to trained telephone counselors 24/7

Suicide is not about wanting to die, but about a powerful need for pain to end. People choose suicide because they feel unable to cope with feelings of pain, hopelessness, helplessness, isolation, and uncertainties.

THEREFORE, THE KEY IS TO STOP THE FOCUS ON PAIN AND REDIRECT THE FOCUS OF ATTENTION ONTO WHAT IS GOOD TO LIVE FOR.
FIND A HEALTHY WAY TO LET GO OF THE PAIN.

MIRACLES HAPPEN AND ARE IN THE WORKS EVEN WHEN WE DON'T REALIZE IT!
All you have to do is bear with the day as it comes because tomorrow is a guaranteed-to-be-different day than today. So, remember, "this too shall pass." Change what you're doing, change what you're not doing, change what you're thinking, just change. Life grows as we grow into a more complete person. FRUSTRATED WITH YOUR LIFE? THESE ARE YOUR ASSIGNMENTS FOR THIS WEEK -
• Go to church and pray at home, on the road, and everywhere you are. It really helps to talk to God, even if you aren't positive He is listening. Besides, you can say ANYTHING to God and it will always be between just you two with no drama or pain for expressing yourself openly to Him.
• Take a class to learn something you always wanted to learn.
• Listen, go to, or watch comedy and enjoy it for the moment.
• Read a book on changing your life for the better, in at least one way.
• Read the bible. Growing in our understanding of His laws of good opens a whole new approach to handling problems.
• Develop a close friendship with a quality good person who genuinely cares (a person who chose a career to help others is a good place to meet that type of friend).
• Make it a game to find the miracles and the messages meant to change your way of thinking, in your regular daily life activities. They can be found in songs that play in answer to something we were just thinking or praying about. Sometimes someone says something to you when you were just told the same thing by someone else.
• Take a few minutes and write down the good things that happened today and then meditate (sit quietly consciously focused on nothing but relaxing) while feeling grateful for them.
• Most importantly, stay AWAY from whatever hurts you and/or hurts your joy of life. It's not always an end to put it on hold. That which hurts us is NOT meant FOR us.
• Take a recess every single day to just have fun for at least half an hour doing something you enjoy.
• LISTEN! Life is full of lessons to learn, disciplining to create positive growth, and outright blessings that we sometimes may not recognize as such because we always think we know what's best for our lives because we want it, so we are attached to that one thing.

KEYS TO HEALTHY HEALING FROM PAIN, HOPELESSNESS, HELPLESSNESS, ISOLATION, AND UNCERTAINTIES:

  1. Avoid that which causes you pain

  2. Find hope in something that cannot be taken away from you in any way ever (God, hobbies, learning life skills, helping other people)

  3. Learn the skills to be able to be constructive and independent

  4. Participate in classes, activities and hobbies that requires interaction with other people

  5. Create certainty and stability in your life by surrounding yourself with people who genuinely care about you, surrounding yourself with the positive certainties that you need by constructive positive means, and learn to love yourself.

  6. Click here to find out how to learn techniques that will change your life for the better.


    Darkness cannot co-exist with light. Darkness disappears when the lights are on. Darkness in life operates the same way. If you are positive, negative disappears because negative cannot co-exist with positive. Let everything that is not a positive influence in your life evaporate on its own by avoiding the negative interactions. React and respond in positive ways even in the darkest moments and the darkness cannot exist in your presence anymore. Become a beacon of light unto the world. Rock-solid qualities such as courage, wisdom, and integrity make a solid foundation that cannot be washed away by storms, no matter how devastating. C.S. Monitor Science, alternative healing, religion, the bible, eastern and western thinking all teach us that keeping the flow positive will create more positive in your life and the opposite is also true. Scientific research revealed positive thoughts/beliefs create positive attractor fields which generate positive circumstances in a person’s life. Whereas, negative thoughts/beliefs create negative attractor fields that generate negative situations in a person’s life. We basically attract and create our own realities from our thoughts and belief systems. Our perception of our reality IS our reality. Teach yourself to think positive!


Click here for more resources >>>

When to Worry - How to Tell if Your Teen Needs Help -- and What to Do About It
By Lisa Boesky, Ph.D.

How I quit sucking my thumb
My Dad told me there was nothing that happened without thinking...there was no way that my thumb would just jump into my mouth all by itself. C.S.Monitor ...I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. NOW CHOOSE LIFE... so that you may lov the Lord your God, listen to Him and hold fast to Him. FOR THE LORD IS YOUR LIFE... Deuteronomy 30:19 "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of the Father. And even the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; YOU ARE WORTH MORE THAN MANY SPARROWS." ~Jesus Christ in Matthew 10:29-31 (EVEN JESUS WAS) despised and rejected by men, A MAN OF SORROWS, and familiar with SUFFERING... and by his wounds we are healed!!!! Isaiah 53


People often wonder why their is suffering in the world IF there IS a God. However, I heard it said best in the movie "Love Comes Softly": "I have a daughter and she could fall while walking right next to me, her father, but I didn't MAKE her fall. Things happen, but as her father, I will pick her up and carry her because I love her. It's the same way with God." (paraphrased) Read The New Testament in the Bible. We may not see Him with our eyes or speak directly with Him, hearing His actual voice like we do with other people, but I KNOW that He is active in my life every single day and I feel Him, and I hear Him in everything I experience, BECAUSE I LISTEN and I let people reach into my heart. "2 Corinthians 1:4. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair." "'It is through MANY persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God' (Acts 14:22)." Even when no one is there to encourage, Love approves of you. God loves you with an overflowing love that never ceases. C.S. Monitor, February 2001 On Air One the other day, I heard something like this:

"Jesus promised his followers three things - constant trouble, and constant joy because of his constant presence, which means no fear." That resonates with me more than anything I have ever heard because I have gone through some awful experiences and yet people are always shocked that I'm almost always still smiling and still pushing through with faith one way or another, so I know it will work out. I have joy and pain in my heart daily that shows me the power of God working in my life every minute of every day, even though most of His efforts are behind-the-scenes. I just wanted to share all this because it may help other people who are going through hardships to let them see that THERE IS HOPE even when we aren't really sure. Opening our life up to God creates a hope within us that leads us through hard times by our faith and by our trust in God, knowing that anything truly is possible and He will make it happen when everything is lined up perfectly to make His ultimate plan for your life come to proper fruition. Live by faith.


This is a paragraph I wrote from quotes in the bible, to be read like one continuous paragraph...

The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their refuge in the time of trouble. Psalm 37:39. As servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities. 2 Corinthians 6:4. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance. Romans 5:3. He consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. 2 Corinthians 1:4. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair. 2 Corinthians 4:8. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure. 2 Corinthians 4:17. I am overjoyed in all our affliction. 2 Corinthians 7:4. For this reason, brothers and sisters, during all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith. 1 Thessalonians 3:7. In your distress... in time to come, you will return to the LORD your God and heed him. Deuteronomy 4:30. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8. But Lord you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief, that you may take it into your hands; the helpless commit themselves to you; you have been the helper of the orphan. Psalm 10:14. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress. Psalm 31:9. Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1. Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress. Psalm 25:17. The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. Psalm 27:5. When you pass through the water, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Isaiah 43:2. Do not fear, for I am with you. Isaiah 43:5. In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. Psalm 18:6. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17. Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you... Psalm 55:22.


In Crisis? Need Help? 1-800-SUICIDE
The National Hopeline Network provides access to trained telephone counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

A SUICIDAL PERSON IS VERY GOOD AT HIDING THEIR EMOTIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE SO FRUSTRATED AND ASHAMED, SCARED AND DESPERATE THAT THEY DO NOT EVEN KNOW HOW TO BEGIN REACHING OUT TO SOMEONE AND THEY HONESTLY BELIEVE SOMEONE THEY KNOW SHOULD SEE AND KNOW AND BE DIFFERENT WITHOUT THEM SAYING ANYTHING, EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT USUALLY POSSIBLE FOR 1) THE HELPER TO SEE HOW SERIOUS THE PROBLEM IS AND/OR 2) THE HOPELESS PERSON TO REACH OUT IN CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS AT THOSE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS.

There is no way to give you all the answers on what to do or say that will guarantee the right things to say and do to prevent suicide.

The reason a person contemplates or tries to commit suicide is because they feel alone, stressed, lost, worthless and/or unloved. The reality of their life does not matter because that person cannot see, hear or feel those things inside their heart and soul. They may never have truly felt those things. It takes a lot of really hard work to get to the point where they can feel wholly loved and appreciated as an individual, if it ever really happens fully, which it may not.

It doesn’t matter what you say or do at that point of no return when they are seriously contemplating committing suicide. If it happens, it is NOT your fault. You personally have no control over their thoughts or actions. Even if you didn’t do something that you believe would have changed things, I GUARANTEE you that is NOT true. It is not your fault. It is no ones fault really. It just spirals out of control and sometimes it can get away before we even know what is happening. The only things you can do to help are to be there to listen without talking when they need that, to hug and love and show that person that you care. But above all else, you NEED to get him/her professional help too.

Stay nearby him/her. Don't let go because that person needs you now more than ever. A severely depressed person needs to be around people who have the professional skills to teach them to break free from the depression with the assistance of medication that breaks the cycle of unhealthy thinking through assisting the synapses in the brain, but even a person that lost also needs to have someone around that loves him/her to anchor them so that they don't go further into the state of confusion and depression and that deep feeling of loss in their soul.

A person on the verge of suicide needs to LEARN to FEEL love and to FEEL appreciated and to FEEL the beautiful things that life can offer. The professionals can get through with the help of the medication so that the person can actually begin to FEEL the depth of your love, appreciation and your own beautiful soul reaching out to them, but those three things need to be present and working at the same time in order to save a suicidal person’s life.

THREE SECRETS TO AVOIDING SUICIDE –

  1. Medication and professional counseling to change the chemicals processing through the brain and the body that spiral continuously fueling the negative thoughts and emotions. Medications are vitamins that the body needs to stay healthy and balanced. There is nothing wrong with medications when used appropriately and for a healthy objective.

  2. Love, conversation, listening and time spent with people who genuinely care about that person. NEVER underestimate the power of spending time in the presence of another person, doing what that person wants to do, listening and valuing what that person has to say, and accepting any and all feelings, thoughts and expressions from that person. It is a fundamental key to creating a bond. Take lots of pictures during this time and have them out for the person to see every minute of every day to remind that person that life is fun and they are loved.

  3. Hobbies, interests, anything the person loves to do have to become an every day part of that person’s life to show the person that life IS worth living. This means, outside of other people, everyone has to have other interests and activities, so that the loss of a person doesn’t take away all the value of living. Most suicidal gestures are made out of the loss of an interpersonal relationship. Give the person another healthy avenue to focus their time and attention on. Something that will ALWAYS be their to consistently give them a feeling of happiness.

You do a good thing by putting the person into the system of psychology, but that system is not nearly perfect and it is only one piece of the puzzle that is missing for that person to have gotten that depressed.

They can't hear you right now, but they need you to keep talking... Keep reinforcing your love, devotion, appreciation for their great qualities that make him/her unique and a special asset to this world, and to guide that person to the light at the end of the tunnel.

Steps to turning it all around:

  1. Talk to him/her and tell that person everything you like and respect and admire about them. Tell the person how they have enhanced your life and others’ lives. Express your love, devotion, and your commitment to helping them get out of the depression.

  2. Then, you have to get them to go through a counseling program specializing in the area they are struggling with. He/she may not want to go, but however you can get them to go, you have to get them into the system so they will get better.

  3. Medications are like vitamins for people who have a problem with the trigger in the back of their neck where the chemicals go to the brain. A person who is depressed has messed up chemicals creating a sort of poison in their body that gets worse over time. The medications get rid of the poison that clouds the sick person’s mind, thoughts, actions, etc. Once the medication has kicked out the poison, the medication starts to create positive chemicals reactions inside the person’s body and brain. It corrects the synapses in the brain to clear the path for positive, logical and reasonable thinking.

  4. Therapy is crucial for anyone who has had a problem that has brought them to such a low point. Therapy teaches skills to healthy patterns of processing thoughts, feelings and emotions. Therapy also lends a listening ear to people in need of a person to just listen while they vent about all the crap they need to get out of their system. It takes time to build trust between a psychologist/counselor and a patient, so give it time and then the benefits are very, very rewarding.

  5. However, make sure that you choose a therapist who creates and follows action plans for positive change. Creating a plan and not following through on it doesn’t get anyone anywhere and it is very common in the industry to just spend the time talking and that can leave a patient feeling like that is all they are doing, paying to talk. It is very important that they learn skills and build a tolerance to feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, unloved, unappreciated, lost, used, abused, etc. The action plan is the way to resolve those issues permanently in the patient’s life.

  6. Create action plans for all areas of need such as working, dating, quitting a bad habit, going to school, etc,, but start out with a wish list for whatever is most important immediately weeding out the big stuff at first. Backtrack from the big stuff with baby steps. For example: If you want to achieve a college degree, the first thing you have to do is enroll at the school, the second thing is take a test, then finish a semester of general education classes, and you build your goal list for your action plan that way, with the little steps so it isn’t overwhelming and so that you are always working toward something attainable. Eventually, you accomplish the big goal, but in the meantime, you can actually be proud of the steps you are taking to get there.

  7. Always have people around that care and that express positives and allow the person to FEEL loved

  8. Care packages, flowers, memorobelia, etc should all be kept around a person who is depressed so that there are tangibles that SHOW that person all the time that they are loved

  9. Keep cycling through this list over and over again forever and there will never be a time when it gets to a low point again. Eventually, medication may not be necessary anymore, and maybe even therapy won’t be needed anymore, but following this list will keep people from ever feeling that lost again.

In Crisis? Need Help?
1-800-SUICIDE
The National Hopeline Network provides access to trained telephone counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


HIGHLIGHTS OF ONLINE ARTICLES BELOW -

This is from a CBN.com article on this page below...
"God does hear our prayers, but His plan and ours aren't always the same. Trust Him to respond in a way that will be to your best interest. That includes the possibility that He will give you strength and peace to endure your trial rather than deliver you from it. Some of God's greatest answers to prayer come in the form of peace and joy in the midst of great hardship. Believe that He will see you through every storm in your life.

Read these Scripture verses and make them your own declarations of faith: Psalm 23; Psalm 28:7; Isaiah 43:2; Romans 8:28; Philippians 4:13."

Suicide is self-MURDER. Thou shalt not kill. The Bible does not say, thou shalt not kill unless... It simply says, Thou shalt not kill. Period.


Suicide Prevention
(from the Network for Good at: http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/health/suicide/)

More than 30,000 people in the United States die by suicide every year. It is this country's 11th leading cause of death, and the third leading cause of death among people ages 15-24. Suicide is not about wanting to die, but about a powerful need for pain to end. People choose suicide because they feel unable to cope with feelings of pain, hopelessness, helplessness, isolation, and uncertainties.

Studies indicate that the best way to prevent suicide is through the early recognition and treatment of depression and other psychiatric illnesses that lead to suicidal tendencies. Because people who want to die by suicide almost always suffer from isolation and loneliness, you can help them simply by reaching out, listening, and letting them know you care. Often, with time and the help of others, suicidal feelings do pass. Suicide is a permanent "solution" to what is most likely a temporary problem.

The more you know about suicide, the better you will be able to help someone struggling with these issues. Use the resources on this page to learn more about the warning signs of suicide, and what you can do to help promote suicide awareness and prevention.

In Crisis? Need Help?
1-800-SUICIDE
The National Hopeline Network provides access to trained telephone counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


Suicide
(from Assemblies of God website at: www.ag.org/top/Beliefs/contempissues_17_suicide.cfm)

This document reflects commonly held beliefs based on scripture which have been endorsed by the church's Commission on Doctrinal Purity and the Executive Presbytery.
Why does the Assemblies of God stand so strongly against suicide? Why does the church believe it is so wrong to take your own life? Doesn't heaven await all Christians?

The Assemblies of God has never approved or sanctioned suicide. Scripture teaches that mankind is a special creation made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26; 2:7). Thus all human life is sacred, a gift from God to be treated with dignity and respect. Murder is condemned by Scripture (Exodus 20:13), not only as the willful taking of human life, but as a sin against the divine image inborn in God's highest creation (Genesis 9:6).

The Judeo-Christian tradition holds that God alone has the right to give and take human life. God is sovereign, appointing both the beginning and the end of our days (Job 14:5; Psalm 139:6).

Suicide is the deliberate act of ending one's own life. Suicide is self-murder. The reason for violating God's command against murder (Exodus 20:13), as well as the mental health of the suicide victim, both raise serious questions of responsibility and accountability. A Christian, with the help of the Holy Spirit, should be able to cope with the stresses that sometimes lead to suicide. But we do not fully understand the causes of major mental illness and must therefore exercise caution in declaring that all persons who commit suicide are eternally lost. The specific instances of suicide recorded in Scripture—Saul and his armor bearer (1 Samuel 31:4,5), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18), and Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:5)—all seem to have sad spiritual as well as physical ends. Some have called Samson's death a heroic suicide, but it seems more likely that his death was the unavoidable result of his heroic action against the pagan Philistines (Judges 16:28-31).

Some may object to calling suicide a violation of the sixth commandment on the grounds that some suicides are not motivated by the hate that Jesus condemned as being as bad as the act of murder. Nevertheless, the act of suicide rejects God's inherent sovereignty over life and is therefore sin if committed with full awareness of what one is doing.

CONCERNS

A suicide has an enormous impact on the immediate family and on society. The bereaved suffer catastrophic feelings of guilt for supposed neglect which allowed the suicide to happen. This pain is compounded by normal concerns about the eternal destiny of the suicide victim.

Family members should be counseled to leave the matter of eternal destiny in the hands of the Lord. He alone knows the thoughts and intent of the heart as well as the mental condition of the victim at the time of the suicide.

Please read, "A Biblical Perspective on Assisted Suicide" for a discussion of physician-assisted suicide, and the slippery moral decline that this so-called merciful action can lead to.

The above statement is based upon our common understanding of scriptural teaching.

All Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise specified.

Copyright ©2006 The General Council of the Assemblies of God
1445 North Boonville Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802
Telephone: 417-862-2781


In Crisis? Need Help?
1-800-SUICIDE
The National Hopeline Network provides access to trained telephone counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

CBN TEACHING SHEETS
What the Bible Says About Suicide
By CBN.com

CBN.com – Suicide. The word has a frightening air of finality. Laden with hopelessness, despair, and tragedy, it is a word that everyone wants to keep at arms' length. "Only people who are really mixed up consider suicide," you've told yourself.

But then one day that word entered your thoughts in a different way. You found yourself in an unbearable situation. You felt trapped and powerless. Ultimately, "ending it all" seemed to be the only answer. It isn't.

There is another solution. It's found in the Bible, God's message of love to you. This is your chance to discover just how valuable you are and how your life can be transformed. Read on.

Where Are You Now?

Probably you've asked yourself, "How did I get to this point?" The answer is ... gradually. Everyone goes through periods in their lives when they feel down. Usually, in time, the sadness leaves and life goes on. But sometimes a difficult situation, a strained relationship or some other problem leads to unhappiness that won't go away.

When that happens, life can become a daily struggle with uneasiness, gloom, and emptiness. Ultimately, depression and hopelessness can take hold, creating a feeling of dissatisfaction with life in general.

Depression has many causes. Often it is associated with a sense of loss that can be caused by a number of things -- illness, the death of a loved one, sudden unemployment, divorce, and so on. A chronic illness, or permanent disability, can rob you of your independence, making you feel worthless, helpless, and angry. Losing someone you care about, through death or divorce, can leave a tremendous void in your life.

Guilt is another trigger for depression. Perhaps you're struggling with drug or alcohol abuse -- or some other habit, or behavior that you are ashamed of. A childhood trauma may have left you feeling damaged and unworthy of happiness. Maybe you just feel like a failure because you haven't achieved all that you wanted in life.

Whatever the cause, depression often leads to a sense of hopelessness. You may feel as though your life is out of control. You may think that ending your life is the only way to take control. It's not.

Where Can You Go From Here?

You can keep going the way you have been, knowing where that may lead. Or you can give yourself a real chance for a better life. The fact that you're reading this shows that you want another option. So, here it is.

There is only one real source of hope for a life that possesses meaning, fulfillment, and joy. That source is Jesus Christ. Speaking about His followers, Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). Through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you can experience overflowing love, forgiveness, peace, and joy in your life. That is a promise from God found in the Bible.

Does God promise that you'll never have another problem? No. But He does pledge to give you the power to face life's trials with confidence, knowing that He will cause all things to work for your good. He promises either to deliver you from afflictions,or give you the strength to endure them, according to His plan for you ... a plan that begins with giving your life to Him.

By accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and choosing to follow Him you place Jesus on the throne of your life. Spiritually, you become a new person because God's Holy Spirit comes to live within you. Jesus described this experience as being "born again." And, best of all, with your new life in Christ comes the right to spend eternity in God's presence. Why not get a Bible right now and read these wonderful promises for yourself?

Look up these Scripture verses: John 1:12; II Corinthians 5:17;I Corinthians 2:12; I John 5:11-13.

If you have never made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you can do that right now and take the first step toward a new life. Simply pray this prayer and mean it in your heart:

Lord Jesus, I ask you to come into my life. I want to turn from living my life under my own control. Come now and live your life in me. Cleanse me from my sins. I receive you as my Lord and my Savior. I will live for you and serve you all the days of my life. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, please send us an e-mail to let us know. Or you can call The 700 Club Prayer Counseling Center at (800) 759-0700. We would love to talk with you and send you some literature to help you begin your walk with the Lord.

Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). If you just prayed and asked Him to come into your life, He did. And He promises to share intimate friendship with you.

Now you need to do a few things.

First, begin reading the Bible on a daily basis. Start with the Gospel of John in the New Testament. Find an easy to read, modern translation like the New International Version, the New American Standard or The Book (The New Living Translation).

Next, try to spend time in prayer every day. Just talk to God like you would a good friend.

Finally, it's important that you find a church that believes and teaches the Bible. This is critical to your development as a Christian. Learn more by reading our teaching sheet on finding a church, and find a local church in your area through the church finder tool. For more information about your new relationship with God, please feel free to call The 700Club at 1-800-759-0700.

Remember this: God doesn't require you to be perfect. Rather, He desires your heartfelt devotion and willingness to live accordingto His Word, the Bible.

What if You're Already a Christian?

Christians can feel depressed and have suicidal thoughts too. It can happen for all of the same reasons mentioned above. The trials of life touch everyone, including believers.

If the situation you are in is something you can't change, know that God can intervene miraculously. As hard as it may be to do, continue praying for God's help. Don't stop.

God does hear our prayers, but His plan and ours aren't always the same. Trust Him to respond in a way that will be to your best interest. That includes the possibility that He will give you strength and peace to endure your trial rather than deliver you from it. Some of God's greatest answers to prayer come in the form of peace and joy in the midst of great hardship. Believe that He will see you through every storm in your life.

Read these Scripture verses and make them your own declarations of faith: Psalm 23; Psalm 28:7; Isaiah 43:2; Romans 8:28; Philippians 4:13.

Ask your Heavenly Father to help you live in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is full of His promises to love, strengthen, heal, and guide. Begin reading God's Word with a new purpose -- to discover new insights about God's love for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your journey and to reveal truths you've never seen before. Accept the fact of God's love for you without relyingon your feelings.

Read these Scripture verses and receive them as God's message to you: John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Isaiah 40:31; Isaiah 41:10; Lamentations 3:22-23.

Also, be prepared to acknowledge any sin that might be interfering in your relationship with your Heavenly Father. Ask God to search your heart and pinpoint any problems. Then, confess and repent of your disobedience and receive God's forgiveness.

Read these Scripture verses for more understanding about dealing with sin: I John 1:9; Psalm 139:23-24; Galatians 5:16-25.

Do Something to Help Yourself

Professional help in the form of a qualified Christian counselor is one of the best ways to fight depression and thoughts of suicide. Look in the phone book and make some calls. Ask for references. A good counselor can help you get a new perspective on your problems. Get a medical check-up. Sometimes depression can be caused bya chemical imbalance or other biological factor.

Seek out a support group (starting with your church) that ministers to the area of difficulty in your life. Interacting with others who are facing similar challenges in their lives will help you feel less isolated.

Force yourself to do something the next time you feel down. Inactivity only makes depression worse. Here are some things to try:
* Talk to someone. Call a friend and share your feelings.
* Take a walk. Exercise causes your blood and oxygen to circulate faster, which makes you feel invigorated. Your brain produces chemicals called endorphins that fight depression.
* Do something to help someone else. As you focus your attention on another's needs, your own cares will become less burdensome.
* Listen to music. Choose your favorite songs and sing along.

If you need ongoing support, we encourage you to contact the pastor of your local church. With the guidance of your pastor, you might also consider seeking professional Christian counseling. Here are some national ministries that we can recommend:

The Association of Christians in Private Practice
1-866-611-HELP

New Life Ministries
1-800-NEW-LIFE

Rapha National Network
1-800-383-HOPE

Emerge Ministries
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