09/10/2026
September is Su***de Prevention Month, and this is a conversation the church cannot afford to avoid.
People of faith can experience depression, hopelessness, emotional exhaustion, and suicidal thoughts. These experiences do not automatically mean someone has lost their faith or stopped believing in God. Sometimes, they mean someone has been carrying more pain than they know how to hold.
Scripture gives us room for honesty. Elijah reached a point where he said, “I have had enough.” Job spoke openly from the depths of his despair. Their suffering was not hidden from the story—and ours does not have to be hidden either.
May our churches become places where people can say, “I’m struggling,” without fear of judgment. Places where prayer and professional support can exist together. Places where we listen before we lecture, stay present instead of offering clichés, and remind people that seeking help is not a spiritual failure.
Sometimes someone does not want their life to end—they desperately want the pain they are experiencing to end. That distinction deserves compassion, but suicidal thoughts should still always be taken seriously.
Check on the people you love. Ask the uncomfortable question. Make space for the honest answer. Stay with people in their pain, and help them connect with the support they need.
There is hope. There is help. And no one should have to carry this alone.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress in the U.S., call or text 988 for 24/7 crisis support.
Save this post. Share it with your community. And help us make the church a safer place to tell the truth.
***dePreventionMonth
