You will find below another link to the apparent suicide that has taken our Lutheran family the last couple days. I knew John as well, and would certainly echo Rev. Fish’s description.
As someone who has gone down the road of seriously considering suicide, I think I have some sense of that darkness. No man knows another’s pain except our Lord, but we can have glimpses of it.
It is truly astonishing to me how many pastors there are out there who discount clinical depression as basically a modern invention. It is real, it is utterly debilitating, and Satan will use it to whatever end can to further his evil plans.
Fortunately, God is merciful. This means, quite simply, that God’s love conquers even death. Even an evil death such as this. When John may have felt abandoned, he was and is not. His baptism remains true. God will not leave him in the clutches of Satan simply because of an illness.
I am still deeply sad, especially for John’s family and his congregation. They will certainly be in my prayers in the days and weeks to come.
God be with us.
-DMR
Please accept my condolences on the death of your friend and may God comfort you in all. May God also comfort John’s family and give their pastor great wisdom.
I am thankful that you have received help for your depression and understand how easy it is for people to take that step to suicide. It’s such a difficult situation and one that others are often reluctant or unable to talk about. There can be so much stigma attached to depression and suicide. Thank you for your honesty.
As the wife and the mother of 2 men who took their lives without warning, I can say that it is a very difficult situation for all involved. I hope that good will come from this and our pastors and people will find it easier and easier to talk openly about these things and find good help.
Thanks DMR
P.S. It looks like Rev Fish removed his post.
Please accept my condolences on the death of your friend and may God comfort you in all. May God also comfort John’s family and give their pastor great wisdom.
I am thankful that you have received help for your depression and understand how easy it is for people to take that step to suicide. It’s such a difficult situation and one that others are often reluctant or unable to talk about. There can be so much stigma attached to depression and suicide. Thank you for your honesty.
As the wife and the mother of 2 men who took their lives without warning, I can say that it is a very difficult situation for all involved. I hope that good will come from this and our pastors and people will find it easier and easier to talk openly about these things and find good help.
Thanks DMR
P.S. It looks like Rev Fish removed his post.
Thank you for your words about suicide. In the United States every
16 minutes a person kills themself. 49.1 % of violent deaths in the world,
are from suicide (WHO). Most of these have a type of mental illness.
My wife Robyn and I have a chapter on suicide in our book, Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You’re Losing It (chapter 4). My sister Cyndi bought this book when it first came out and gave it to many people. Less than two years later, she killed herself. She had bi-polar disorder. Please join us in prayer that suicide would be ‘brought out in the open in the evangelcial church.
Thank you for your words about suicide. In the United States every
16 minutes a person kills themself. 49.1 % of violent deaths in the world,
are from suicide (WHO). Most of these have a type of mental illness.
My wife Robyn and I have a chapter on suicide in our book, Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You’re Losing It (chapter 4). My sister Cyndi bought this book when it first came out and gave it to many people. Less than two years later, she killed herself. She had bi-polar disorder. Please join us in prayer that suicide would be ‘brought out in the open in the evangelcial church.