“I have said to you these things, so in me you may have peace. You will have problems in this world. But take your heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NIV).
Summer is usually the highest height. Enjoy the heat waves, relax in the wave pool, or travel around the world. We take our vacation, experience the amusement park and hang out with friends and family. However, the heartbreaking events at Cedar Point last week left many confused, despair and chaos. The presence of summer doesn’t mean that mental health struggles will magically disappear, but that means they often fly under the radar and fly unnoticed.
According to WTOL, the man died after jumping off the home construction of a Cedar Point employee on First Street. The cause of death is currently under investigation, but organizations like the Ohio Foundation for Suicide Prevention are reminding individuals that this is a call to be notified. Every day, five people are confused about suicide, but that’s too many. We may not have known this person personally, but the weight of his pain is rippling across our community and our hearts. It can stir up questions, sadness, or our past struggles. So, where does this leave us?
Broken reality
John 16:33 reminds us that there are problems in this world. Being a follower of Jesus does not mean that we will not face difficulties or difficulties, but that means that His presence will come with us. Jesus overcame the world, so we can overcome this difficulties in life.
Psalm 91:14-16 explains this phenomenon.
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord. “I will save him. I will protect him. He will admit my name. He will call me, I will answer him. I will be with him.
We live in a fallen, broken world where mental, emotional and mental pain is real. I hope there is no such thing as suicide, depression, anxiety, trauma, or abuse. But they do. Again, I would like to normalize Christians not being affected by depression or despair. Many people in the Bible, from Elijah to Job, David, and Jesus, confirm this very well. But they also make it clear to us that God cares about our suffering and wants to be with us in it.
God’s heart in tragedy
In one of my favourite passages, the Psalmist reminds us that God not only cares about our suffering, but also sits with us. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord will approach the broken ones, and will save those who have been crushed by the spirit” (NIV).
Friends, when tragedy strikes, it can feel like God is far away. But I’ll assure you, he’s not. It’s okay to acknowledge and feel this way. I even recommend that you tell the main that you are feeling this pain. But he is nearby, offering us sadness and hope. My prayer for all of us is not to ignore our feelings and circumstances, but to invite them all God of hope. I know that God’s heart is for life, for perfect recovery, and for healing of the soul.
Our response as a Christian
When mental health tragedy or crisis attacks like events at Cedar Point, it can make us feel lost, hopeless, confused, and even scared. I wonder what will attack next and how can we prevent it. These suggestions will not regain what we have lost, but it is my prayer that will help them prevent more people from losing their lives.
1. Choose compassion over judgment: resist assumptions and harsh words, especially in times of great sadness and loss. Listen, listen and try to understand. Choose to empathize with being accused or hypocritical. As Romans 12:15 reminds us, we lament with those who mourn. They share their suffering and help carry their burdens (Galatians 6:2).
2. Become a light in a dark place: Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus concludes his sermon on the mountains by sharing a short teaching about salt and light. In it, he reminds us that he can share his light regardless of the darkness around us. This light is hope through being, praying, and listening to the ear. It does not throw out Christian cliches, but it leads them to tenderly hope, sitting with those who suffer when Jesus is sitting with us in us. This is not a mantra to see the gospel of prosperity or the bright side. It is authentic, offering shoulders to cry, urging them to express their sadness and confusion, but from that place they help them into the light.
3. Beware of warning signs: If you have not been trained in suicidal awareness and prevention or basic mental health training, get an education. Anyone can benefit from this and everyone can participate. Be aware of the needs around you. Check in with a friend, even if you look “well.”
Please point to your hope
Friends, events like this can shake us to our core. They are incredibly depressing, beyond the waves of words and sadness. But let me know that you reach out to one person struggling with this and let them know that they are not alone. Listen, listen, try to understand, pray with them, sit where they are. Remember: Everything can exist without the need to “fix” it.
Then I take the time to sit with you and reflect on these questions.
How would I usually respond when I hear about such a tragedy?
Who in my life might need encouragement, pray, or listen now?
Am I rooted in the truth of God’s Word so that others can offer hope when they feel hopeless?
How can I check in for people who are suffering? Do you need to learn the practical resources and tools that will help you with them most?
Should I pray for someone God has placed in my heart? Are they suffering physically and mentally? If so, how can you verify your hopes and provide words of encouragement?
Does my church support the mental health struggle? Are they equipped to respond to the crisis? If not, how can I defend and get that training in my church?
prayer
Dear God, our hearts hurt when we hear the lives of those who have been lost too soon. You know that mental health struggles, including suicide, are not your plan. If such a tragedy arises, pull us close to you. Draw us into a broken, and solaceful family that needs your love. Help us become people of light and caring and provide real practical hope to those in the wounded world. Darkness is not greater than your light, and again, even in our pain and suffering, you are with us. Jesus, we love, praise and thank you. Amen.
Additional Crisis Resources
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Mental Health America
Mental Health First Aid USA
I love Jesus, but I want to die by Sarah J. Robinson
Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation
National Anthem of Hope
National Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Fizkes
Amber Ginter is the author who turned to teachers who love Jesus, her husband Ben and granola. Amber’s growth was searching for faith and mental health resources, but found nothing. Today, she not only read your Bible and prays more, but also offers hope to young Christians suffering from mental illness. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. Download her best faith and mental health resources for free and help you navigate books, podcasts, videos and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.
