The World Health Organization estimates that each year approximately one million people die from suicide, which represents a global mortality rate of 16 people per 100,000 or one death every 40 seconds. There are many people that I talk with, in and out of the body of Christ, that all have something in common, insufferable pain. I have asked them specifically if they want to die, and their answer is “No.” Then I ask if they want to live, and the common response is, “Not like this.” There are many different reasons that I have heard as to why they feel like they do. Trauma that they experienced, heredity, environment, chemical imbalance, stress,etc. etc. The words of Paul bring me great peace when I struggle with life’s challenges. It is written in *2 Corinthians 12:8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.* It is not easy for me to rejoice in the midst of the fiery trials that I seem to go through on a regular basis, but I am confident that God will help me and all who struggle as I do, endure to the end. I like the words of Charles Spurgeon, “My faith rests not upon what I am, or shall be, or feel, or know, but in what Christ is, in what He has done, and in what He is now doing for me.” My prayer for all who struggle is, that you receive healing and peace in and through the Lord Jesus by your faith and trust in Him, Amen. In Christ Love, douglas

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