For the believer, they can focus on the unlimited grace and love that comes from our Father. But even with Christians, (especially when it's clinical depression) it might take more intervention.
But how do you help, and what do you say to someone who isn't a Christian? Ultimately you want them to focus on Christ's love. (Psalm 86:15) But starting from that point, tends to push them even further away. Telling them to pray about it will only fall on deaf ears.
You must pray for them, and pray without ceasing.(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) But what they need in the present is YOU. They need someone to hold their hand, get medical attention if necessary, and help lead them through this darkness. They need a fully attentive helper, just as Christ has been for you. They need a representation of Christ, even if they don't believe. You must be His grace, His love, and His support for them. He will use you too show His never ending love, and in doing so, be His light that will bring them to Him.
How can we expect them to see His undying devotion for humanity, if we can't have the same devotion to them. You can't just say you'll pray for them. You have to be there for them. There is no patented Christian fix to mental illness, however, if we operated in the love of Christ we can begin to make the burden a bit lighter for those we love. Prayer has become a tool of the lazy, a way to appear dutifully helpful without the inconvenience of actually being helpful.
Before you say that I’m harsh, consider this: When is the last time you simply “liked” a social media post requesting prayer but didn’t actually stop to pray? How often do you tell someone you’re praying for them but don’t actually pray? How often do you pray with real expectancy and not just going through the motions of prayer out of dutiful Christian obligation?
Let’s be real: prayer is the biggest struggle for many of us as Christians. We lack consistency, we lack heart, and, when we’re not up against the wall, we lack the urgency to petition heaven with expectancy and faith. We also tend to forget that God uses US to be the answer to prayer. If someone appears suicidal, we owe them more than saying “keep praying about it.” They deserve us showing up with our whole selves. They deserve to be reminded that they truly aren’t alone. They deserve us reminding them that seeking professional help is not a sin against God. WE are the answers to the prayers that have been prayed by being the LIGHT in the darkness of depression.
So, if you ever suspect that someone is suicidal, be the light in the darkness that God has called you to be and reach out in love. Help usher them to professional help. Help by reminding them they are not alienated by their loved ones, church family, or the God of hope who still loves them in spite of and regardless to their mental illness.
