Suicide Prevention Month…Too Close to Home

I heard the familiar vibrating sound notifying me that I had a new message. I clicked on the message and what I read made my heart cry out. A dear friend (who I will call Peter) was telling me goodbye. He was prepared to end his life. After twenty minutes of talking the phone went silent. I waited. And waited. And waited. No more messages.

After a sleepless night of pouring out my heart to the Lord begging God to protect Peter, I went to work still wondering if he was dead or alive. I tried to keep my mind on Christ, but was wrestling with the million questions racing through my mind. After several hours I finally heard back from Peter. He is alive! Praise Jesus! He is alive!

While Peter’s circumstances haven’t changed (yet), his perspective is slowly changing. He is learning to cry out to Jesus in his pain. It isn’t that he wants to die, but he wants to stop hurting. Peter’s story is like so many others. If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, I beg you to tell someone. You don’t have to suffer alone. There is help.

Here are a few helps that I encourage you to save in your phone just in case you ever need them.

1-800-273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-715-4225 Georgia Crisis and Access Line

MyGCAL app

NotOK app