Let’s stand with them

I noticed in this item today that about 40% of U.S. adults report knowing someone who died by suicide. This is a staggering figure that highlights just how pervasive and personal this crisis has become. With nearly 50,000 suicides recorded in 2023 alone—one death every 11 minutes—the ripple effect of loss touches millions, reaching far beyond statistics to the heart of our communities and churches. What struck me most is how nearly half of Americans are now “suicide-loss survivors,” carrying the weight of grief, unanswered questions, and sometimes guilt or regret. The CDC estimates that for every suicide, at least six other people are intimately affected, making this a collective sorrow that we bear as a nation. The numbers are more than just data; they represent real fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, friends, and neighbors. As a Christian, I am reminded that the pain of suicide is not new to humanity, but the scale and frequency in our time present a call for compassion and action. Scripture does not shy away from the reality of despair. The psalmist writes, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). This promise is both a comfort and a commission. We are called to draw near to those who are suffering, to listen, to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15), and to offer the hope that Christ brings even in our darkest valleys. Paul’s words in Galatians 6:2—“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ”—ring with urgency in this context. The church must be a place where people can bring their pain without fear of judgment, where lament and hope can coexist, and where practical support is offered alongside prayer. For anyone who has lost someone to suicide, or who struggles themselves, I want to say: you are not alone. There is no shame in grief, and no darkness that Christ’s light cannot reach. Let’s be communities of presence, not just words—living out the love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7).