Seeing the Face of God

Published: Aug. 7, 2020, midnight

b'Editor\\u2019s Note: Today\\u2019s devotional reading discusses suicide.\\nSuicide is a very real issue in our world. It\\u2019s the result of brokenness in our hearts, minds, and relationships. Satan loves to convince us that we are completely alone and without hope and that the only way out is death.\\nDear friends, that is a lie. You are not alone. In today\\u2019s reading, we see the psalmist feels completely hopeless and abandoned. They feel like God has left them. These feelings can seem like the truth, and if you\\u2019ve felt them before or are feeling them right now, you certainly aren\\u2019t the only one. But, in Romans 8, we find the truth: in Christ, nothing, nothing, NOTHING can ever separate us from God\\u2019s love (Romans 8:39).\\nWhen Satan tries to convince you God is a thousand miles away, you can fight back against his lies with the truth: God is right there with you. He knows your hurts. He feels your pain. He weeps with you. God has no condemnation for you in Christ\\u2014because, through faith in what Jesus did on the cross, we find forgiveness for all sin we have ever and will ever commit (Psalm 103:12-13; Romans 8:1; Ephesians 1:7).\\nIf you are having suicidal thoughts, talk to a trusted Christian adult about it right away. Tell them how you feel. Seek biblical counseling. Opening up can be hard, but pray God will give you the words to say and trust Jesus\\u2014who lives in you\\u2014to give you the strength to say them. You don\\u2019t have to suffer alone. God created community for us to share our burdens together and to fight Satan\\u2019s lies for one another when we can\\u2019t fight for ourselves\\u2014so reach out to your church, to your friends, and to other trusted people in your life.\\nAs people made in the image of God, we are made for community because God lives in community; He is not alone but lives in constant relationship as three Persons in one. If God doesn\\u2019t live independently, why should we try to? We are not designed to go through hard times on our own.\\nIf you suspect your friend is having suicidal thoughts, tell a trusted Christian adult immediately. They can help you support your friend through this time and direct them to help. In the same way that we aren\\u2019t designed to go through hard times by ourselves, we aren\\u2019t designed to help others by ourselves.\\nBy leaning on God\\u2019s grace and the people He has placed around you, you can begin to heal. These feelings won\\u2019t last forever, but Jesus\\u2019 love will. And, one day, He will return to make all things new, defeating Satan and destroying death and sin and brokenness permanently. \\u2022 Taylor Eising\\n\\u2022 If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You can also talk with someone via web chat at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/\\n\\u2022 If your situation is potentially life-threatening, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area) or go to the local hospital emergency room right away.\\n\\u2022 If you need someone to talk to but are not in need of immediate help, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate.\\n\\u2022 Have you ever felt like the psalmist in today\\u2019s reading? What (or who) helped you get through that time? \\n\\u2022 Are you feeling like the psalmist right now? How can you bring your pain to God, like the psalmist does? If you feel like you can\\u2019t even pray right now, who in your life can help you'