Originally Posted By: GreeCguy
I've faced some pretty dark days myself where I seriously considered the rope or the gun. I came close, but never went over the edge.
What helped me then and continues to help me now is my faith in my Lord and Savior Jesus [censored].
For me, it works like this - start a faith relationship with Jesus [censored]. Get into the Bible. Read, grow, listen, ponder, mediate.
Find a good Church with good people. I'm not talking about "Sunday only" Christians. I'm talking about people who truly believe and who have had their life changed by what they have read and experienced. As Paul says in Romans, "don't let the world squeeze you into it's own mold, but let God remold your life from within" (J.B. Phillips translation).
Build bonds within that community. They will be your best support group. They will listen to you, be patient with you, love you, guide you, encourage you, support you though the tough times.
A Church like that which has truly been touched by the word will have an outreach program. Get involved. Help others. It might be a community Food Pantry, a clothing bank, a homeless shelter, an after school program for kids - if they truly believe what they have read in the Bible, they will have something to help others. Get involved and stay involved.
Yes, it's work and sometimes the people you help will not be thankful. But do it anyway, because in the long run, you're not doing it for them, you're doing it for you.
It's worked wonders in my life, and I can truly say I am a happy man today who has been richly blessed in many and various ways.
I will say a prayer for your friend.
And from someone who has been there, thank you for being his friend.
Gree, Thanks,
I work in the healthcare field and I know what the docs will do,
basically it will be
"take these 2 pills every and call me next week", they will just get rid of him, they do not care.