she jumped to her death

"My friend committed suicide."

As I heard two of my friends relate about the death of their mutual friend, my heart weighed heavily. How much has the young girl gone through to decide she'd had enough and that death was the last and best resort?

Loss of a friend, something so real and heartfel. How does one come to terms about it with God?

While discussing this issue with a close friend, we realise that many a times we can innocently ignore stress signals that people around us show, or dismiss it with some kind words like, "it's ok,","take it easy","it'll be alright".. but perhaps it pays to pay more attention to some of these reactions. But of course with wisdom and discernment. So that we may not miss the opportunity to minister, and shine His light into poor soul.

Suicides are seemingly on the rise. In the past few weeks, the papers have reported another two cases involving Singaporean families. It is not substantial a number to cause alarm perhaps but it does reflect a certain despondency and I'd say "sick" mentality brooding among people today. That is definitely disturbing. Death by choice is not a resort that God would love us take. Problems do not go away by means of suicides. It merely is an escape route that leads to a worse pit- hell!

Christians cannot and should not stand on the by-lines. Simply because we have in our hands the message of hope that is TRUTH which will set people free. If only we would pray and be His instruments of peace..