Meredith walked into her boyfriend’s house after school one day to check on him. He wasn’t at school, and she couldn’t get a hold of him. She knew where the spare key was, so she let herself in and started calling his name with no response.

She slowly climbed the stairs and turned the handle to his room. She peeked in and saw his closet door open.  She took a few steps in and then started screaming in disbelief. There he was, with a noose around his neck; dead in the closet.

This story, unfortunately, is not fictitious; it really happened to a girl I went to high school with, and it happened when we were IN high school. 

13 Reasons Why

Unless you’ve shut out all forms of media in your life, you’ve probably heard of the Netflix miniseries “13 Reasons Why.” The series is based off of a book with the same title and directed by the 24 year old  actress Selena Gomez.

The story centers around the suicide of a teenage girl named Hannah. You can read the full synopsis and review from Plugged-In here.

Some teachers I know were encouraged to be familiar with it because of the sheer amount of teenagers watching it to make sure they didn’t see suicide as a viable option. After personally dealing with a suicide attempt to someone close to me this year, this topic strikes close to my heart. I’ve heard countless teenagers say over my teaching career, “It’s fine. I’ll just go kill myself,” in jest, but I never let them off the hook. SUICIDE IS TERRIBLE and these two posts are going to share 10 reasons why suicide is NEVER the answer.

Teen suicide rates are on the rise. Click to see why this act is NEVER the answer. Click To Tweet

Suicide tells God He made a mistake

Psalm 139:13-17 states the following:

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!

This means that you were carefully planned by God. Whether you were “planned” by your parents doesn’t matter. God knew you would be here and He spent nine months crafting you in the womb. Your life is not a mistake and you have so much worth. He would have sent Jesus to die on the cross even if it was just for you. Think about how special that makes you.

Suicide allows the devil to win

Many teenagers commit suicide because they feel worthless.  This is exactly how the devil wants you to feel. He would love nothing more for you to throw away the life that God has given you.

1 Peter 5:8 states, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” He wants to devour your life and for you to end it. He’d love nothing more.

John 10:10 declares, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” I love this verse because it shows the unbelievable contrast between God and Satan. Satan wants to destroy you; God wants to give  you abundant life.

If you need help remembering this, click to download our freebie “13 Promises of God for the Hard Times”, or wait until the end of the post.

You’re defining your worth by other PEOPLE 

Even if for some reason you think the devil isn’t behind it, you’re probably letting your worth be determined by others and not by God.

• Do you take to heart what others think about you?
• Do crave constant attention from others?
• Are you constantly seeking approval in other people?
• Do you feel devastated when you don’t meet someone expectations?

You will never please everyone. The only one you should be concerned with pleasing is God.

Suicide is selfish

When I was a sophomore in high school, a discussion came up in my English class about suicide. At the end, my teacher, who I respected greatly, turned to everyone and stated, “Suicide is the most selfish thing you could ever do.” The class fell silent at his assertiveness, and he continued to elaborate on his statement.

When you contemplate suicide, you’re only thinking about yourself. The devil makes you think, “Everyone’s lives would be better if I wasn’t here,” or, “This is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me; I’ll just end my misery.”

The decision to contemplate, attempt, or commit suicide always comes down to self. In 13 Reasons Why, the girl blames others, but essentially she is the one that takes her life. Not someone else. You are solely responsible for your actions.

Suicide kills more than just you

If you had to write down all of the titles you have as a teenager what would it look like? Mine was something like: daughter, friend, sister, aunt, cousin, basketball player, student, and youth group member.  If you commit suicide, you’re killing a piece of everyone who cares about you. Your parents. Your friends, sister, neice/nephew, etc.

In high school, a friend of our neighbors drove his car into a house to commit suicide. He left behind a wife and two elementary aged children. When he died, part of them died with him as well.

Suicide never affects just you. Think about all the people that would suffer who REALLY care about you.

Suicide kills more than just you. How? Click to find out. Click To Tweet

In Closing

Suicide is not a fun topic to talk about. However, after having to face it with a loved one this year, I felt that it was time to write this. I’m telling you there is hope and there are people, like me, who care about you.

To help combat these thoughts and feelings, PLEASE click the graphic below and download the sheet. Cut them into strips and hang them up in different places to help you.

Click here for the next five reasons!

Love from here,

Sarah