March 27, 2010 Nathaniel has a drinking problem. He began drinking years ago when he lost his job and family. He barely makes it on his government check and help from local food and clothes closet ministries. The trailer in which he lives is in need of repair. Nathaniel drinks to forget about his problems. When he heard that a friend who had also lost his job committed suicide, he began thinking about whether or not suicide was the answer to his despair. In 2008, 28 people successfully committed suicide in Bartow County. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, between 8 and 25 people attempt suicide after they learn of a death by suicide. If you contemplate taking your own life please reach out to someone. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Suicide is also a selfish act. If you know someone whom you believe is considering suicide get them some help, and let them know that you care for them. The most difficult grief to overcome for surviving family members is grief due to suicide. If you know someone who has lost a loved one due to suicide let them know that they are not responsible for the actions of another and pray for them and love on them all that you can! 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:1–11 Pray for the hopeless. Ask God’s Spirit to reveal to the hopeless that their enduring suffering is an important step on the road to hope and rejoicing. Pray that they will find their hope in Christ Jesus. Ask God to show you how to pray and minister to those you know and meet.