On the flight returning from Israel, it was impressed upon me to relaunch the study Who Told You That? The Truth about the Lies. A group of us were ending Urgent Plea for Prayer, and I was unsure if I should immediately start a new study without a break. However, there was a strong presence in the atmosphere giving me an inside peek of individuals needing healing from depression, the sense of feeling insignificant, loneliness, isolation, and even people who have found themselves struggling with their success.
One full week after I landed back in the states the tragedy of Kate Spade age 55 leaving her husband and thirteen-year-old daughter has taken her life by suicide filled every news outlet and platform on social media. I could not wrap my mind around this loss. Could it be that God was preparing me once again to share a resource that had previously help hundreds of women? I wasn’t sure; however, I have come to the place of exercising wisdom and walk in obedience after living years past in disobedience and failing miserably. I am not speaking or carrying guilt or shame. I am expressing myself as to why I immediately return home to kick off the study a day before Mrs. Spade’s death.
God never ceases to amaze me. Follow me if you will. I’m in the Holy Land on a missionary prayer journey. God is speaking, and I am responding. I said, “Yes!” to God without hesitation and the day after the launch learn of Kate Spade and then a couple of days later receive news of Anthony Bourdain.
People are struggling. People viewed as successful are grieving, and some are depressed. Two high profiled individuals have left this earth. This leaves me asking about the individuals who are walking around this world to some degree invisible.
I honestly could not understand why God gave me this urgency to do this study once returning to America. After the two known suicides, I now understand. I cannot help but think about how many individuals we do not know who are not in the limelight but may have committed suicide or thinking about it.
Without a doubt, prayer changes things. It’s time to pray that the thought of suicide is eradicated, that the root is destroyed, and that people will seek help and not take their lives.
Conversations have continued to include how to help someone who may be struggling with life situations and what to look for when encountering someone you fear may be distancing themselves from others. You may have noticed a loved one whose conversations and interactions have changed and found they prefer being isolated over engaged as days previous.
How can we reach out to others we witness who may be struggling with depression, life changes, loss, etc. regardless of financial success, business accomplishments, educational level, titles, and status?
Let me be clear. I am not a licensed counselor, psychiatrist, or therapist. I am an ordained pastor and have 95 hours of transformational prayer instruction from Ashland Theological Seminary healing care ministries. I am a woman who has walked with God long enough to know when He is speaking that I am to be available to His leading. I am an author who has heard the voice of the Lord and decided to use my life experience and through transparency writing books that prayerfully will help save lives.
Our current online blog study Who Told You That? The Truth about the Lies and my seven weeks (49-days) workbook Getting To the Root of It may be a welcomed resource for you or someone you know who may be experiencing a rough patch in their life.
I’m not sharing to sell anything. I’m sharing to save lives prayerfully.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Kate Spade. Anthony Bourdain. RIP
