A Cry for Help

“GOD has forgotten me!” a Brazilian woman cried out. After the sudden death of her husband, she felt that her life no longer had any meaning. Have you ever tried to comfort someone who is that distressed or who is perhaps crying for help?

Some become so despondent that they end their life​—and a number of them are youths. According to the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, a study in Brazil shows that “suicide among youths has increased by 26 percent.” For instance, consider the case of Walter,a a young man in São Paulo. He had no parents, no home, no privacy, no friends he could count on. To end his misery, Walter decided to jump off a bridge.

A single mother, Edna already had two children when she met another man. After only a month, they began living together in the home of his mother, who dabbled in spiritism and was an alcoholic. Edna had another child, began drinking excessively, and became so depressed that she tried to commit suicide. Finally, she lost custody of her children.

What about elderly people? Maria used to be fun-loving and talkative. As she grew older, however, she began to worry about her job as a nurse because she feared that she would make mistakes. This made her feel depressed. After trying self-medication, she sought medical attention, and the treatment she received seemed helpful. But when she lost her job at the age of 57, depression returned with such intensity that she could see no way out. Maria began thinking about committing suicide.

Soon​—A World Without Despair

LIFE is getting increasingly demanding, and the reasons for despair are many. When frustrated, we may find it hard to control our emotions. Why, even people who love life can become desperately unhappy! Consider a few examples.

In ancient times, the prophet Moses got so discouraged that he said to God: “Please kill me off altogether, if I have found favor in your eyes, and let me not look upon my calamity.” (Numbers 11:15) Fleeing from his enemies, the prophet Elijah exclaimed: “It is enough! Now, O Jehovah, take my soul [life] away.” (1 Kings 19:4) And the prophet Jonah said: “O Jehovah, take away, please, my soul from me, for my dying is better than my being alive.” (Jonah 4:3) But neither Moses, Elijah, nor Jonah committed suicide. All of them knew God’s commandment: “You must not murder.” (Exodus 20:13) Having strong faith in God, they were aware that no situation is hopeless and that life is a gift from God.

What about the problems we now face? In addition to emotional distress or physical problems, we may at times have to put up with ill-treatment from family members, neighbors, or colleagues. The Bible speaks of people who are filled “with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, badness, being full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malicious disposition, being whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, insolent, haughty, self-assuming, inventors of injurious things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, false to agreements, having no natural affection, merciless.” (Romans 1:28-31) Being surrounded by such people day after day may make life seem like a burden. How can we help those who need comfort and relief?