“I Hate Myself,” she cried.

Self harming is on the rise.  Those who self harm, cut themselves, hit themselves, and burn themselves, among other things. The actions come about as a result of something deep seeded within; it’s not only self-loathing, but can be a coping mechanism for great sadness, distress, or regret.  Self harming, as a way or coping, or as a way of self punishment, is a call for help.

Do you know someone who self harms?  Do you self harm?  Perhaps you haven’t told anyone.  You may feel no one would understand why this happens.  May I introduce you to someone who can help?  Perhaps you already know Him, but haven’t considered that He would want to help you.  When one loathes themselves, it’s hard to believe that others wouldn’t loathe them, too.

I’m talking about Jesus.  Jesus is the One who can reach into the depths of our pain, pour in His love, and gently pull us up.  Oh, I know it’s more than just a simple prayer for help, but that’s the beginning.  When we begin to ask Jesus to please help us; when we acknowledge that we are sinking in despair, and can’t get out of the quicksand of misery, that acknowledgement itself is the very rope that we can grab and hold onto.

I encourage those in despair to look at the life of Jesus.  Learn His ways.  Think about the things He said.  Observe how He related to people.  When you do that — focus on the life of Jesus — it helps one to begin to realize that you are included among those He loves.  You are included among those that He longs to change their lives.  Jesus is the most radical person who ever walked this earth.  He not only accepted the lonely, the unlovely, the miserable, but He sought them out.  He was always on the look-out for people who counted their lives as not much.   Then, He reached down, pulled them up out of the pit of hopelessness, and set them on a path of joyful aspiration.  That is not an impossibility with God.

Most people know that Jesus died on the cross for our sins; few understand that He also came to shake things up.  He came to challenge injustice.  He came to uncover hypocrisy.  He came to expose things hidden in the depths of our souls; things that chain us in despair; freeing us instead to walk a path of joyful living.

I love the Bible verse in Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.”  Here’s another beautiful and very meaningful verse, filled with truth, love, and hope that is found in Psalm 145:14, 18,  “The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him in truth.”

Whatever your difficulty in life; whatever you may despise about yourself, Jesus has the answer — Jesus is the answer.  I hope you will try Jesus and see for yourself.  Blessings to all who seek Him, because you will find in Him, all you need.