Overwhelmed with life in many ways, my sister and I decided to go for a late night walk. We sang half the time, and the other half we talked. With aching heart's we broke out joining together in song with these stinging words;
"The lights go out all around me, one last candle to keep out the night. Though the darkness surrounds me, I know I'm alive but I feel like I've died. Though I can't understand why this happened, I know that I will when I look back someday...And see how You've brought beauty from ashes and made me like gold purified through these flames."
I didn't know it then, but that song foreshadowed our following conversation.
We walked about a mile or so until we reached a tall bridge over looking the Nechako River (Or "netʃa koh" Carrier for "Big River") and spent some time standing on our tip toes peering down at the dark body of water below. We began speaking about people who battle with being suicidal, and about how in the past we ourselves have wrestled with it. I told her how back in 2009 when I was really doing bad and had a mental breakdown that I was going to take the boat out into the middle of the lake and throw myself in with cement blocks tied to my feet. Then we spoke about survivors of people who attempt suicide and how they either completely change their life or shortly attempt again later on (in general) Then she told me "The survivors of those who had jumped off bridges in suicide attempts, that following moments after they had jumped was immediate regret. On the way down they thought about how their life could've been different. Their problems could've been solved, and how that didn't have to be the end. It didn't have to end that way."
To all those who have made that jumped but still remain, to those who have thought about jumping, and to those who have lost someone. I want to tell you that there is hope, there is life worth clinging onto. (Also, as a side note. If you're in that dark place right now and need prayer or encouragement. Message me, I will pray for you)
"Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life..." (John 14:6)
There is hope and reassurance found in God that the world does not, and cannot offer.
"In Christ alone, our hope is found," and our Joy that comes from the Lord is not based on circumstances. The verse that comes to mind is "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
No matter what happens in this life, no matter the trials, or things that people do to us that are intended for harm. God will not leave us nor forsake us, and we will be by His side! No matter how bleak, hopeless, or dark things seem now. We have that assurance in Christ that the battle is already won, and this, what we are seeing now, this is not the end.
Isaiah 61 (Please look up the full chapter)
1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me..."
3 "To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
"The lights go out all around me, one last candle to keep out the night. Though the darkness surrounds me, I know I'm alive but I feel like I've died. Though I can't understand why this happened, I know that I will when I look back someday...And see how You've brought beauty from ashes and made me like gold purified through these flames."
I didn't know it then, but that song foreshadowed our following conversation.
We walked about a mile or so until we reached a tall bridge over looking the Nechako River (Or "netʃa koh" Carrier for "Big River") and spent some time standing on our tip toes peering down at the dark body of water below. We began speaking about people who battle with being suicidal, and about how in the past we ourselves have wrestled with it. I told her how back in 2009 when I was really doing bad and had a mental breakdown that I was going to take the boat out into the middle of the lake and throw myself in with cement blocks tied to my feet. Then we spoke about survivors of people who attempt suicide and how they either completely change their life or shortly attempt again later on (in general) Then she told me "The survivors of those who had jumped off bridges in suicide attempts, that following moments after they had jumped was immediate regret. On the way down they thought about how their life could've been different. Their problems could've been solved, and how that didn't have to be the end. It didn't have to end that way."
To all those who have made that jumped but still remain, to those who have thought about jumping, and to those who have lost someone. I want to tell you that there is hope, there is life worth clinging onto. (Also, as a side note. If you're in that dark place right now and need prayer or encouragement. Message me, I will pray for you)
"Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life..." (John 14:6)
There is hope and reassurance found in God that the world does not, and cannot offer.
"In Christ alone, our hope is found," and our Joy that comes from the Lord is not based on circumstances. The verse that comes to mind is "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
No matter what happens in this life, no matter the trials, or things that people do to us that are intended for harm. God will not leave us nor forsake us, and we will be by His side! No matter how bleak, hopeless, or dark things seem now. We have that assurance in Christ that the battle is already won, and this, what we are seeing now, this is not the end.
Isaiah 61 (Please look up the full chapter)
1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me..."
3 "To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
