So happy to have my friend, Liz Freeman, as a guest writer today! (Her bio is at the end of the article.) She shares Think on These Things from a personal perspective and I know it will bless you. Maybe you know of someone else who would benefit from it? Pass it on!
I know of a young man who took his life recently. Clearly, he was loved and appreciated by those who knew him. After reading post after post telling of his sense of humor, his ability to welcome people to church, to be a friend, to be active in church, it’s hard to understand what would have caused him to do something so desperate.
I looked at some photos on Instagram today, and something I saw brought a wave of emotions. I don’t remember what the photos were. I couldn’t tell you all the images and feelings that came to mind, but I remember that they made me sad. While the images that caused this reaction weren’t sad in and of themselves, that was the reaction I had. They made me think of things that were in the past; things that never had a chance to happen; missed opportunities. To people who see me each day, it wouldn’t be evident that I felt these things. I don’t talk about them. No one would ever know.
It’s easy to mask these feelings. We can laugh and cut up with a crowd of friends while having these feelings in the background. We can participate in events, get wrapped up in the busyness of life – something which most people take as being a sign of everything being okay – when, in reality, in our minds we are isolated.
When the question is asked, “What could have driven this person to do such a thing?” we should think that there is always a part of a person that is hidden; a private part of ourselves that we never show. There might be unwanted consequences of exposing such private thoughts. “We all wrestle with demons” is a true statement for many. Usually it’s an expression associated with addictions or other bad behaviors, but often, it’s just what runs around in our minds. The truth is, this is spiritual warfare we battle in our minds.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
I believe that to those who knew this young man, the things he thought and felt that brought him to that fateful day would have never been on their radar. I believe we all have these moments. It’s how our brains work. Still, for some of us, it can become a force that can drop us into a depth of sadness that we have to claw our way out of. The feelings can last for a moment, for months, or for a lifetime.
Over the years, I’ve learned to recognize this attack when it happens. I’ve also learned to resist it. Now, instead of dwelling on these moments and allowing myself to become lost in “what ifs”, I stop and do whatever I have to do to change the direction of my thinking. I “bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”. It’s a learned behavior; something we must train ourselves to do.
Paul also tells us how to do this: Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
I wish this young man had learned these things in time. I hope his friends and family don’t blame themselves for “missing the signs”. From what I’ve seen and heard, there weren’t any. I hope they can think of the things in his life that were honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and worthy of praise. I hope when they think of him, they’ll remember these things.
You also may enjoy A Plea to the Desperate, a true story we witnessed while in Sicily.
Liz Freeman began writing and editing articles as a volunteer for Endtime Magazine. She has edited several books for Endtime Ministries including: Revelation Commentary, and Dark Intentions: Inside the Mind of the Antichrist. She is also fluent in Spanish and served as music director for Los Pentecostales de Murfreesboro.
Liz is married to Terry Freeman, and they have two daughters, Elizabeth and Victoria, and two granddaughters, Olivia and Charlotte. They now serve as assistant pastors for Life Bridge Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
We have another year behind us with opportunity and anticipation ahead. One thing we cannot say is that 2016 was boring. I won’t bore you with a repeat of all the highlights from the past year, you will see enough of that on social media.
