[Please join me in praying for children, families, and our future on Thursdays this year.]
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners…” (Isaiah 61:1 NIV)
I have on my mind and heart young people who are struggling with depression and suicide. You don’t have to go far to be astounded at the statistics in this area.
“Recently, The Wall Street Journal reported a huge increase in the percentage of American high school students suffering from depression. The numbers are grim: “In 2021, 57% of high-school girls reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year, compared with 36% in 2011. Thirty percent reported they seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021, up from 19% in 2011.” (source)
And:
“Rates of serious mental health concerns like depression and anxiety have risen appreciably among youth over the last several years. Even before the pandemic, this occurrence was observed, with one study finding a 27% increase in anxiety and a 24% increase in depression between 2016 and 2019. This year, the 2023 MHA survey found that 11.5% of youth reported severe major depression.” (source)
I believe that there are spiritual entities which can try to oppress people. I believe that physical/chemical imbalances can cause depression and lead to suicide. And I believe that circumstances, emotion, relationships and lots of other things can bring people into periods of depression. Whether or not you agree with what I believe, you must admit that this is an area over which we need to pray.
Sovereign Lord,
Righteous God, you hear our prayers, for you are faithful to your promises. Today we intercede for children, teens, and young adults who are struggling with depression and considering suicide. They may feel like their enemies have chased and caught them and crushed their lives into dust. They may feel they are living in the darkness of death’s shadow, in depression, heavy and dazed with despair. But we know that you want to bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners. Bring them out of these troubles! Help them to reach out to you and to your people for help. Come quickly to answer them from the deep depression and don’t leave them. Reveal to them your tender, unfailing love. Give them light for their paths; teach them, so they can trust in you. Where there are life circumstances, emotions, relationships and other issues, provide strength, guidance, and healing. Where there are chemical and physical reasons, provide resources to help fight the fight. Where there are spiritual entities attacking them, we bind the spirits of suicide and depression, and pray in the name of Jesus for you to intervene. Protect these precious young lives from any and all forces that seek to destroy our young people and our future. Lord when you rescue them, it will bring you more glory for you are true to your promises. We ask this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ our Lord, AMEN.
(adapted from Psalm 143 TPT)
“Lord, you must hear my prayer,
for you are faithful to your promises.
Answer my cry, O righteous God!
Don’t bring me into your courtroom for judgment,
for there is no one who is righteous before you.
My enemies have chased and caught me
and crushed my life into dust.
Now I’m living in the darkness of death’s shadow.
My inner being is in depression
and my heart is heavy, dazed with despair.
I remember the glorious miracles of days gone by,
and I often think of all the wonders of old.
Now I’m reaching out to you, thirsting for you
like the dry, cracked ground thirsts for rain.
Pause in his presence
Lord, come quickly and answer me,
for my depression deepens and I’m about to give up.
Don’t leave me now or I’ll die!
Let the dawning day bring me revelation
of your tender, unfailing love.
Give me light for my path and teach me, for I trust in you.
Save me from all my enemies, for I hide myself in you.
I just want to obey all you ask of me.
So teach me, Lord, for you are my God.
Your gracious Spirit is all I need, so lead me on good paths
that are pleasing to you, my one and only God!
Lord, if you rescue me, it will bring you more glory,
for you are true to your promises.
Bring me out of these troubles!
Since I am your loving servant, destroy all those
who are trying to harm me.
And because you are so loving and kind to me,
silence all of my enemies!” (Psalm 143 TPT)