DEPRESSION, SUICIDE AND THE RIVER BEYOND

A while ago, a big brother of mine told me of a mutual friend who was on the verge of committing suicide just before he called. I wasn’t just shocked, but it was hard to imagine how quickly the mighty can fall.  A famous Nigerian singer said, “Everybody is rich on instagram.” However, it’s not just in frivolities but even in simingly good things.  Even sermons are edited into short clips to highlight what that media team perceives as the high moments of the sermon. Not criticising this in any way, I only wish we extended this into other no so visible areas of life. For career people, LinkedIn is a mad house, everywhere is filled with “doings.” Doings is a Nigerian slang for describing mighty deeds. The issue is that a man who’s not properly schooled will think he’s not doing well enough just because he’s not in season. This is also not the fault of those in season.

Adversity come upon men for many reasons. It could be stiff competition,  it could be your village people(village people is a Nigerian slang for devil), incompetence,  inconsistencies etc. Whatever the reason for set backs, the results are most often the same for everyone. On my class group, someone brought a news of one of us that has some health challenges and is need of a little help. People find it hard to believe it was not a scam. They could not imagine someone of the guy’s status to be in such situation but the reality is adversity will challenge you irrespective of who you are or what you are doing.

“Why is this happening to me” is a famous question but it could mean at least two things. Firstly,  it could mean, “I don’t deserve all this challenges and God is unfair to allow me have this” . Secondly, it could mean “where is the loose end for this to have been possible”. Now it’s reasonable to feel helpless at first but we must learn from King David by encouraging ourselves especially in the Lord. Well, this is the place where it may be asked if we actually know the Lord enough to be sure of His capacities and intent. We must fight this while the pain and regrets are still present until they become nothing but a memory. A memory not as strong as our newly found victory.

Life is worth living, choosing to take it is an insult to one that gave it. No jokes, you will have to fight but you need to admit you can’t clinch victory on your own. Many times we face intimidation in circles where we hope to find help but we must look beyond.  There is a reason why those circles are relevant, why not look at the entity that gave relevance to those circles which is God. God is rich in mercy, he forgives mistakes, he gives comfort, he restores lost years, he renews strength and lots more.

King David said the sorrows of those who run after other gods shall multiply. Other gods means anything that takes more of our attention aside from God himself. This suggest that life cannot really be maximised on our own terms. The beauty of life is in its essence. We must all find it.

Death is a transition, not an end.