Hopelessness is the worst feeling a person can experience, far surpassing fear, loneliness, or desperation. While fear may hold the hope of escape, loneliness the hope of companionship, and desperation the hope of improvement, hopelessness leaves a person feeling there is no help or solution. This profound sense of hopelessness often leads many to contemplate or commit suicide. However, for those in Christ, hopelessness is never a reality. Though fear, loneliness, or desperate and helpless situations may arise, hope remains because of trust in God. True hope, as understood biblically, is not a mere wish or unsure optimism, but a strong and confident expectation rooted in God's promises. This hope, supported by faith, transforms lives, changes values, and directs actions, ensuring that those who rely on Him never face utter despair.

The mental health crisis gripping America and the world is evident in the alarming statistics surrounding thoughts of suicide, particularly among college students. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among college students, a finding that predates the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, research from the National Center for Education Statistics reveals that 60% of the nearly 20 million students enrolled in colleges and universities in the fall of 2019 suffered from mental health troubles, including suicidal thoughts. This pervasive struggle reflects a broader decline in mental well-being across all age groups, underscoring the urgent need to address the emotional turmoil that continues to escalate.

In the midst of increasing dangers and events that threaten our sense of security, a growing fear of survival can lead to hopelessness. When hope diminishes, depression often follows, and individuals may give up the battle for life, sometimes resulting in suicide. Statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health for 2006 reveal that 33,300 people in the United States successfully committed suicide, with men being far more successful at completing the act than women, despite more women attempting it. The suicide rate generally increases with age, peaking among those 65 and older, who often feel abandoned and without hope in their later years. No age group, except the very youngest, is immune to this issue, and almost all who succeed in suicide show prior evidence of depression and other mental disorders, frequently accompanied by substance abuse. Discouragement is a real factor in everyone's life, and it can be easy to become negative and contemplate spiritual suicide by giving up. This discouragement can stem from internal struggles, external pressures from the world, and influences from satan, making the path seem impossible. Perception plays a significant role in how challenges are faced; one person may see a problem as a challenge to overcome, while another views it as an insurmountable burden. Adjusting one's thinking and focusing on a relationship with God can help in meeting these challenges. With His help, problems that seem overwhelming can be conquered, as He never gives us more than we can handle when we rely on Him. The vision given to Jacob, showing a ladder with angels ascending and descending, symbolizes uninterrupted fellowship between God and His people, offering tremendous encouragement. This vision assures us that, despite difficulties, God is with us in a completely unbroken way, providing a constant stream of help from heaven. Jesus Christ Himself promised never to leave nor forsake us, reinforcing that this support applies to us today just as it did to Jacob thousands of years ago. This assurance should motivate us to persevere and not give in to thoughts of spiritual suicide by abandoning our journey. Additionally, we must strive to meet challenges for the sake of our loved ones, especially those who are unconverted, to share eternity with them. Giving up, or committing spiritual suicide, could result in failing to be there for them in God's Kingdom. We are called to a ministry of reconciliation, to do the right thing, and to be peacemakers, even if peace does not immediately result. Furthermore, we owe it to God not to let Him down. He is pulling for us, hoping we will do our best and endure to the end, providing all the help we need within the framework of our circumstances. His assurance that He will never forsake us deserves our best effort in return, encouraging us to keep going despite discouragement.