I have had a particularly difficult time with my prayer life the past few years.  I’m a Boomer in my mid-seventies with issues such as Parkinsonism from Agent Orange and PTSD from Vietnam.   I have been fighting stress (and cancer) along with all that has happened this past year, and I have my share of aches and pains which usually wait until I retire for the evening before they make themselves known.  Thank God for His love and mercy.  I’ve asked God for more time to spend with my loving wife Deena and opportunities to visit family, and for the last twenty months, I have been cancer free.  Deena and I both pray that God will get us through our retirement years and He has (again) blessed us with otherwise good health and excellent health insurance.  This is particularly important for those occasions when those pesky aneurysms or kidney stones pop up.  Fortunately, Deena’s health after stenting one such aneurysm this past August is good.  As for me, I’m generally responding to my Parkinson Disease medication, though my doctor plans to double my dose when she sees me next month.  All in all, my family trusts in God who has not failed us.  That is not to say that we haven’t had our share of heartache and lean years in our life as do most people, however. Yet, I’ve found that prevailing prayer is the key.

Lately, my prayers have come mostly at night, and in small snippets.  Sometimes praying seems to me like rock climbing where you are struggling not just to move forward, but to keep from falling.  You start off with the warm sun shining on your back and your adenaline pumping, but before long your calve muscles are cramping, you can’t find a crack to squeeze the tips of your fingers into, and the weather looks unexpectedly–and increasingly–dark and menacing.  Sometimes, you may have a lifeline to catch you if you slip.  Other times, there’s none and certainly not a net 1,400 feet beneath you to break your fall.

Around 3:30 a.m. this morning, I was praying in fits and starts again, and I wondered how people with mental health issues deal with prayer.  How does a person who is thinking of ending their life pray? What do they even pray for? Or a distraught mother whose infant just died of crib death? Deena is convinced I have Asperger’s Syndrome, but lest anyone confuse me with the Nazis, the “woke” term today for Aspergers is Autism Spectrum Disorder, or DSM-V-TR code: 299.00 (F84. 0.) The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is the final authority in the U.S. (and Australia) when it comes to classifying mental disorders.

And what about people who struggle with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Bipolar Affective Disorder?  What issues do they face in prayer (assuming they pray?) Or, what of those who are alcoholics, or grieving or who are victims of sexual abuse?  I wondered whether some people can even mention a troubling experience or issue in their prayers for fear of precipitating a trigger event while they are alone in their beds in the middle of the night?  A trigger event is a sight, scent or sound, perhaps even a thought, that launches a cascade of signs and symptoms in a person, much like some musical notes or flashing lights can cause a seizure in vulnerable epileptics.

So, I decided to explore this topic, partly because in my entire life, I never saw this subject addressed in the literature.  The point is, prayer does not come easy to some people even as reading and basic math skills are challenging to others as well. What follows is an annotated list of common issues that many deal with which I’ve supported by useful Scripture verses, my own experiences and the drafting assistance of Chat GPT-4, Apple Intelligence, and Pathway, an AI program and diagnostic and decision making tool for health care providers. Passages are in quotes and italics (passim.)

So, approaching these issues alphabetically, let’s begin with the problem of alcoholism, or more properly, Alcohol Use Disorder, 305.00 (F10.10.)

HELPING ALCOHOLICS PRAY

Many of us, if not all of us, know someone who drinks to excess. In my life, it was my father, my father-in-law, a doctor I once worked for, and fellow employees and colleagues who are too numerous to count. I’ve learned not to get into existential discussions when a person is drunk.

There is short-time cognitive impairment when an alcoholic is currently soused, but over time, the impairment becomes more and more entrenched and permanent. You may have met people who seem constantly inebriated, though still functional (if barely.) These people might have trouble marshaling a thought while praying, and persisting with it, causing them frustration and perhaps guilt. Alcoholics have no trouble rousing feelings of guilt and inadequacy and often their family can help them do so. I had to care for a patient once when I was young and naive. After three or four days in the hospital, he earnestly and sincerely announced to me that he would never drink another drop of alcohol again in his life. Later, when I saw his family walking towards his room, I happily shared the good news with them. They offered the most scornful laugh I had ever heard in my life. The three or four members in the group stared at the floor shaking their heads. One family member finally said that she hoped that this promise that he made turn out better than the previous eight promises of sobriety he had made in the past. I learned then that there is a dynamic in an alcoholic family. The drunken family member is ill to some relatives and excuses are made when they are under the weather. Other members in the family may argue that alcohol consumption is a choice, not an illness. Often, angry words are exchanged, or household articles destroyed, perhaps someone is assaulted. During the next day or so, the drunk apologizes profusely to whomever he or she has offended. Sometimes a gift is made in some clumsy attempt to purchase absolution from the injured person or persons he or she have harmed whether by words or deeds. Occasionally, the person with Alcohol Use Disorder may make comments about how the family would be better off if he or she were dead. If the family decides not to play this game, then the alcoholic may become angry, as if he or she is entitled to be forgiven in the same way they are entitled to act indiscriminately while drunk.

The emotions the alcoholic feels in prayer while addressing His creator are guilt for his addiction, shame for his behavior and fear of the consequences from God or man if he is judged.

“Addiction may cause individuals to feel disconnected from their spiritual beliefs or from God. They might question their faith or struggle to maintain a relationship with a higher power, particularly if they associate their alcoholism with spiritual failure…Many religious and spiritual beliefs involve principles of self-control, moderation, and responsibility. An individual’s struggle with alcoholism may conflict with these values, causing inner turmoil and making it harder to engage in prayer meaningfully.” Apple Intelligence.

Yet:

“While alcoholism can hinder prayer, it can also be a powerful tool for recovery. Many individuals in recovery find solace in prayer, using it as a means to seek strength, guidance, and forgiveness…Some individuals may find that their struggle with alcoholism ultimately leads them to deepen their faith and connection to spiritual practices. They may turn to prayer as a source of strength and resilience in their recovery journey.” Apple Intelligence.

So, with every problem, including Alcohol Use Disorder (and assuming the alcoholic evades or survives liver failure, encephalopathy or a cardiomyopathy), there is the hope and potential for change.

The Apostle Peter writes in his first epistle (chapter 5, verse 8):

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.“

The word Peter uses for “sober mind” is νήφω (néphó.). The verb form for this word means to abstain from wine, whether literally or figuratively. Biblehub.com summarizes it perfectly:

“The Greek verb “νήφω” (néphó) primarily means to be sober-minded or self-controlled. It conveys the idea of being free from the influence of intoxicants, both literally and metaphorically, and extends to being vigilant and watchful. In the New Testament, it is often used to describe a state of mental and spiritual alertness, encouraging believers to remain clear-headed and focused on their faith and responsibilities.”

Some of the Scripture passages that may be useful in ministering to an alcoholic are Mark 10:27; Romans 5:3-5; Ephesians 6:18; Titus 2:12 and Hebrews 4:15,16.

HELPING PEOPLE WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT-HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) PRAY

The DSM-V-TR defines this as a neurodevelopmental disorder defined by impaired levels of attention, organization, and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity.  We’ve probably all attended school with “fidgety” kids.  They don’t pay attention to the teacher during class, their notebooks are cluttered with bizarre drawings, missing pages, and they can’t sit still.  Usually, these are boys (there are three males with ADHD for every female with this diagnosis.)  They act impulsively which will cause problems once they get a credit card if not sooner.  At the moment, Methylphenidate (Ritalin®) continues to be the drugs of choice for children with ADHD, though there are other brand names for the same product.  About 75% of children and adults respond to Ritalin, however.  As adults, people with ADHD will discover that their issue generally does not progress assuming they remain compliant with their medical regime and absent any life crisis.  In fact, with training in areas such as time management, communication, organizational skills and tips for handling stress, ADHD adults can be quite successful in society.

But what about their prayer life?

One of the secrets of success in ADHD is journaling.  It focuses the mind and keeps the person engaged.  A prayer journal includes much more than just prayers, but also pertinent Scripture verses and personal reflections as well.  People with ADHD can miss deadlines due to the nature of this condition, so notes on his computer or alarms on his watch can be reminders for the person to take a time out and speak to God.  Sometimes, prayer can “piggy-back” on some other routine.  For example, a person might leave for work fifteen minutes earlier than usual so they can spend that time in pray once they arrive at work, or even just sitting in their car in the parking lot.  They can also pray while taking walks or working out.

Occasionally, ADHD people find it sometimes useful to hold something in their hands, such as a rosary.  I am not a Catholic, but when I taught adult Sunday School, I took several leather laces and threaded them through wooden beads—one bead representing each student of mine.  While driving to work, I would hold one bead as I prayed for a specific student before moving on to the next bead (student.) The beads helped me keep track of where I was. My granddaughter also got me a polished, cross with rounded edges small enough to fit in the palm of my hand which I would sometimes use myself as I prayed.  I suppose a tennis ball or a large bolt would work just as well, though if you could find something more inspirational (like an old-fashioned key or a spike representing the nails used on the Cross). it might be more meaningful. 

Sometimes, soft background music, classical music, even Gregorian chants might put you in a worshipful frame of mind.  Incense is something that should not be dismissed, either.  Protestants tend not to use incense, likely because it smacks of some New Age practice, but when you light a cone of incense and see the smoke drifting upward toward the ceiling, there is an analogy to our prayers rising towards Heaven and the throne of God, as if Heaven was even “up” in the first place.

Also, shorter prayers may be better than a marathon session.  For me right now, five or six sessions of 3-5 minutes each is more effective than forty-five minutes, though I am still not completely satisfied. Experiment and different methods and see what works best for you.

HELPING PEOPLE WITH AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER PRAY

The term “autism” likely conjures up frightful images in your mind. But this is not necessarily justified. Take epilepsy for example. While it is true that many people with epilepsy have generalized convulsions that throw them to the ground and twist their bodies in some grievous fashion, many with epilepsy have seizures that are completely unnoticed by others. So, there is a spectrum, which is sort of like a gradient which has been developed to plot the severity of ASD in affected individuals. I’ve included an example of the autism “wheel” to the right.

There are a series of questions to ask the person in order to discover where they fall on the “wheel.” A person might be profoundly affected by one facet of autism, for example failing to make eye contact. If so, that “pie slice” might be almost entirely orange (and you can see that the concentric circles allow for a grading on the severity of the behavior.) Or, they may not be abnormally aggressive, so there might not be too much color in that pie slice. The less color in the different categories slices, the less atypical or less neuro-atypical (the term used in popular literature today to describe autistics) the person is and they may escape the diagnosis for most of their life (as I apparently did.)

For all of the troublesome issues that autistics may have, they have many admirable, even enviable traits as the Cleveland Clinic allows:

• “The strength to speak out or “go against the crowd” even if it’s not the popular thing to do.
• A strong sense of right vs. wrong, leading them to follow their moral compass even when no one’s watching.
• The ability to express themselves directly and honestly.
• A knack for connecting with people of all ages.
• The ability to focus for long periods of time and gain expertise on a topic.
• Strong nonverbal reasoning skills.“

Some very famous, successful and influential people had all the hallmarks of Asperger’s or even admitted to the diagnosis once it was established. There people included Emily Dickinson (poetess); Marie Curie (physicist); Albert Einstein (mathematician); Bill Gates (inventor); Elon Musk (entrepreneur); Dan Aykroyd (actor) and Steven Spielberg (director) just to name a few. Oddly, Louisiana has the lowest rate of people with Asperger’s and Massachusetts has the highest rate (Chat GPT 4.0). The U.S. overall ranks fairly high on the list of children with ASD (1 in 36), but this might be due to the ability to diagnostically screen children with greater accuracy. Furthermore,

• In the U.S., about 4 in 100 boys and 1 in 100 girls have autism.
• 1 in 45 adults in the U.S. have ASD.
• Boys are nearly 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls.
• Autism prevalence is lower among white children than other racial and ethnic groups:
• White – 2.4%
• Black – 2.9%
• Hispanic – 3.2%
• Asian or Pacific Islander – 3.3%

But what of the relationship to God and the spiritual lives of people with ASD? And their prayer life, particularly if they are often at a loss for words in a social setting? In my own personal life, I am often dumbstruck talking to God, as well as I am to a colleague or a nextdoor neighbor. But I have learned to nod and appear to be agreeable to whatever is being proposed.

Because autistics prefer structure over informality or spontaneity, they may be drawn to churches that are more liturgical in worship than otherwise, especially since many neuroatypical individuals are uncomfortable with loud (contemporary) music and bright lights. In conversational prayer where individuals in a small group take turns, they may draw a blank or seem to be at a loss for words. I know I sometimes am. They are more comfortable with prayers that are written, but that’s not to say that this person can’t be the one who writes the prayer before the meeting. The tendency of many people with ASD to ponder deeply on a topic might suit them to a contemplative approach to their faith or a similar lifestyle. On the other hand, some neuro atypical individuals reason concretely more than abstractly. They have a tendency to take things (including Bible passages) literally. Given their strong moral leanings, I wonder whether those with ASD might fall prey to legalism if their interpretation of the Gospel is left to their own devices.

When it comes to worship, a person with ASD finds it much easier to “link” spiritual themes in prayer to areas in their life they have a passion about, such as music, art, writing and perhaps nature.

The success of autistic people to have a successful personal relationship with God begins with the degree of their infirmity. It may be that no intervention is necessary. On the other hand, a sympathetic “prayer partner” might be in order, perhaps someone in the same circumstances.

HELPING PEOPLE WITH BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER (BAD) PRAY

There was a time when bipolar affective disorder was called “manic depression.” In bipolar affective disorder, there are alternative cycles between depression and hypomania (i.e., polar differences between spending three days in bed in the dark and then running around like a madman for another 72 hours.) Many famous people have BAD, including Selena Gomez, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Linda Hamilton, Richard Dreyfuss, Mel Gibson and Mariah Carey to mention just a few who are still alive. Bipolar affective disorder tends to affect (or perhaps, inspire) the more talented people in society, such as the late British poet and artist William Blake (1757-1827) and Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890.) There are two types of bipolar affective disorder individuals:

“Bipolar I is classified as people who experience extreme highs that reach psychosis or delirium, while Bipolar II can include more depressive states.”

The medications used to treat this illness are pricey and they tend to stifle literary or artistic creativity as the talent may be. The goal is to level out the wide mood swings so the person can become functional again. Hallucinations (including tactile hallucinations) and paranoia are not unusual in people with BAD.

The goal here as with other disorders is to create a safe, nonjudgmental environment where the person feels welcomed and comfortable. You should know, however, that we cannot separate our spirit from our flesh. Mystics throughout the ages have tried to rise above their environment, their pain, their sorrow, their circumstances, only to come crashing back down again. A person with BAD will likely have a prayer life (or no prayer life at all) that fluctuates with their cycling. When they are active (manic or hypomanic), not only will they literally “pray without ceasing” but they might imagine that they have been selected for some divine mission. During the days, weeks or months when they are depressed, you’ll likely find them alone in a darkened bedroom. So, baby steps are best here. Don’t encourage them to bite off more than they can possibly chew, and be patient with them when they are down. By that I mean suggest short, simple prayers that they can manage even when they feel overwhelmed.

They should also keep taking their medications. Many stop, partly because there may be uncomfortable side effects, or they feel “cured” and don’t need it again. Some are afflicted to the degree they may need to spend time in an institution. But most people with bipolar affective disorder can have positive experiences in their prayer life if their disorder is otherwise under control.

HELPING PEOPLE WITH DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER PRAY

This is a disorder that includes what was commonly considered to be Multiple Personality Disorder several decades ago, something that was never recognized by the American Psychiatric Association before, but now is grudgingly allowed as a dissociative disorder. Let me give you a real life example.

In graduate school, I took a 5000 level course in Psychopathology. When the professor discussed DID (above), she mentioned her girlfriend who was in the same Ph.D. program as she (my professor) was. When it came time for her friend to defend her dissertation, her friend got so stressed out that she assumed the persona of a five year old girl. She fidgeted like a child, spoke like a child (could not pronounce the words she had written in her paper and could not even read her paper.) She never got her Ph.D.

Usually the different personalities such a person has break off (i.e., originate) because of trauma. There are two categories of this wrongly named “split personality.” The Cleveland Clinic says one type is what you find in demonic possession and the other is nonpossessive in nature. In the first category the patient has no control over who is in charge. The relationship between the person and the demons(s) pretty much Biblical as you’d read in the Gospels. An extreme case of this involved the well-respected Lutheran Pastor Johann Blumhardt in the Nineteenth Century. You can read the account here. In the second type, a person might enjoy or otherwise assume a different persona. Perhaps there is a hint of this in method acting or Cosplay when taken to an extreme? I just don’t know enough or recall enough to elaborate.

Psychotherapy, medication such as Aripiprazole (Abilify); Olanzapine (Zyprexa) and Risperidone (Risperdal) and occasional hospitalization are often used along with outpatient counseling. There are Christian psychiatrists in most U.S. cities that might be able to assist the patient who desires to know God.

HELPING PEOPLE WITH GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD) PRAY

Haven’t we all been anxious at some time or another? The roots of this disorder often begin in childhood or adolescence, but they can begin occasionally in an adult. Johns Hopkins describes the challenge this way:

“GAD means that you are worrying constantly and can’t control it. Healthcare providers diagnose GAD when your worrying happens on most days and for at least 6 months. GAD is one of the most common mental disorders in the U.S.”

Christians are admonished in Scripture that we should not worry. Jesus addressed the issue of worrying in his Beatitudes address. In Matthew 6:25ff he told the crowd:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life.”

One of the problems with anxiety is that it frequently appears with one or more other psychological issues, such as depression, or maybe obsessive-compulsive disorder. When I’m stressed, I “play this game myself.” I’ll leave the house on an errand, walk to the car, only to return to the front door to be sure it is locked and secure. I locked it and closed it instinctively (i.e., without thinking), but maybe once in one hundred times I actually forget, and the one percent error gnaws at me until I double check. As anxiety and OCD go, that is a rather harmless exercise. But it can keep me from enjoying whatever outing my wife and I are on if I let it. Anxiety is a sly sort of problem because it can sneak up on you. But if you have serious health conditions, worrying needlessly can put you in the hospital.

Fortunately, GAD responds well to prayer, although your physician may find it beneficial for you to take some mild anti-anxiety medication. In that case, you should.

There’s an old Gospel hymn called “Count Your Many Blessings.” It’s a wonderful song, and if someone with General Anxiety Disorder begins their prayer time with an inventory of what they have to be thankful for, than that in and of itself might lower their blood pressure a few millimeters of mercury. In addition to considering what gifts or talents you might have (for example health, or even remission from a deadly disease such as cancer), you should pick out a Scripture verse that is personally reassuring. Apple AI suggests Isaiah 41:10 or Philippians 4:6, 7. That can be your “verse for the day” and thinking about it, meditating, etc. can also be quite soothing. Eastern religions employ something call a mantra. Obviously, we don’t want to focus on chants to pagan gods, but the principle may be sound and we can substitute Christian themes for others. This involves what is called “synchronized breathing.” Proper breathing is vital to everyone. Anxiety can lead to hyperventilation which disrupts the carbon dioxide balance in your body. This can easily be restored (if recognized correctly) by breathing slowly into a paper bag. In synchronized breathing, we take a fragment of a sentence, such as “I know God loves me” as you breath in and as you exhale, you might add “and he forgives me for my sins.” What you are doing is take a fundamental BIblical truth and “hitchhiking” with a therapeutic breathing technique. You need not do this continuously, just a few times each day, particularly when you feel stressed. Often, feeling stressed accompanies major events, such as a plane trip, or surgery, or a holiday. Praying in advance of these events can affect the success of the event and the release of anxiety in you.

And then there is music. Who does not enjoy music? Martin Luther, the great protestant reformer once wrote:

“I am not satisfied with him who despises music, as all fanatics do; for music is an endowment and a gift of God, not a gift of men. It also drives away the devil and makes people cheerful; one forgets all anger, unchasteness, pride, and other vices. I place music next to theology and give it the highest praise.”

Music (i.e., Christian music or worship music) creates a mood that is conducive to faith. Not all music does this of course, but Christian music can and definitely should. Listening to it in your car, at home, etc. is a good way to stay upbeat, and you can also throw in some positive affirmations as well, such as “I am loved by God” or “I know God will see me though this.”

In conclusion:

“By engaging in these prayer challenges, individuals with General Anxiety Disorder can create a structured spiritual practice that promotes peace, community, and a deeper understanding of their faith. It’s important to remember that while prayer can be a source of comfort, it’s also essential to seek professional help for managing anxiety.” Apple AI.

HELPING PEOPLE WITH OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD) PRAY

Stress and anxiety play a key role in obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Your anxiety levels build up inside you and the only way to relieve the anxiety is to act out compulsively. The Mayo Clinic has an easy to understand definition of OCD:

“Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) features a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears known as obsessions. These obsessions lead you to do repetitive behaviors, also called compulsions. These obsessions and compulsions get in the way of daily activities and cause a lot of distress.

Ultimately, you feel driven to do compulsive acts to ease your stress. Even if you try to ignore or get rid of bothersome thoughts or urges, they keep coming back. This leads you to act based on ritual. This is the vicious cycle of OCD.

OCD often centers around certain themes, such as being overly fearful of getting contaminated by germs. To ease contamination fears, you may wash your hands over and over again until they’re sore and chapped.”

The ritualistic behaviors found in OCD lead many people to become superstitious in order preserve their health, safety, good fortune and so on. Such rituals might involve knocking on wood, carrying a lucky penny or some other fetish, crossing your fingers (perhaps even crossing yourself as in church, depending on the reason for the behavior.) Superstition is seen frequently among sailors, baseball players and perhaps soldiers in times of war. And while technically superstition and OCD are two completely different issues, problems arise when superstitious thinking become obsessive.

The Mayo Clinic lists some commons behaviors found in OCD, namely:

• Fear of contamination or dirt.
• Doubting and having a hard time dealing with uncertainty.
• Needing things to be orderly and balanced.
• Aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control and harming yourself or others.
• Unwanted thoughts, including aggression, or sexual or religious subjects.

There was a time when the American Psychiatric Association defined pyromania as a form of OCD, but now it is considered to be more of an impulse control issue than frank OCD.

Successful prayer among people with OCD depends on a stress-free environment while one prays (or as stress free of an environment as possible.) Asking God for strength and developing a self-determination that the OCD behavior will not define the person is also helpful. That seems to shift to locus of control to the person vis-à-vis some other ritual. Accepting and giving thanks for small victories is also important as something of a confidence-building measure. Then, too, the person needs to be reminded that there are some things that they cannot control. The need for structure and ritual among OCD people can be co-opted into and vented through some sort of religious ritual if that behavior is entrenched deeply enough. Then again, conventional counseling and medications can play an important role as well.

HELPING PEOPLE WITH SPIRITUAL OPPRESSION PRAY

Spiritual oppression is something like a “sickness of the soul.” But, that’s not quite right, because a typical sickness comes from a virus, a bacteria, or some chronic process (e.g. alcoholism) whereas in this case, there is some nefarious element present. Obviously, you would not find spiritual oppression listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Nor is spiritual oppression the same as possession. I don’t believe a Christian can be truly possessed to the point that they have absolutely no executive control over their actions, but they can be oppressed. Usually, a person does not become spiritually oppressed by stealing candy bars from the local grocery store or flirting with someone else’s wife. The Greek New Testament word for “oppression” suggests “torture” or “torment” (especially the latter of these two words.) The Greek word is βασανίσαι, and it is the same word the demons in Gerasa used when they confronted Jesus in Matthew 8:29. βασανίσαι is used twelve times in the New Testament; six times in the syntopic Gospels describing the same event(s), five times in Revelation and once in an epistle from Peter describing the torment that Lot felt living in Sodom, surrounded by the immorality he saw around him daily.

It seems like oppression occurs when someone becomes involved with the supernatural, worshipping false gods, and these sorts of spiritual sins. People who consult mediums, practice divination or ritualistic magic are all vulnerable to this. Think of this as an unintended consequence. There is an old saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. You might live in a totally secure home, but if you leave a window unlatched or a sliding door unlocked, then a thief–or worse–can slip in before you know it. In addition to occult-related activities (including ouija boards), sometimes capital offenses such as murder might cause someone to be tormented by the devil. For example:

I worked in a military squadron with a person when I was 21 or 22. This much older person had the reputation of being the squadron drunk. He had fought in his late teens or early twenties in World War II (the Pacific Theater.) Having neutralized a Japanese garrison and secured a small island in the Pacific, he was tasked with escorting two Japanese prisoners through the jungle to the other side of the island where the Americans were setting up a fortified position with a makeshift stockade. The hands of the prisoners were secured and this acquaintance of mine had a weapon, but as he was following them through the several miles of jungle, he observed them whispering one to another. He told me in once that he was seized by an uncontrollable fear that they were slipping their bonds and planning to attack him and kill him. So, in a distraught state of mind, he shot them. He shot and killed two unarmed combatants in his custody. By the time he got to this point in the story, the man was sobbing inconsolably. The prisoners were not attempting to escape as it turns out. He reported this to the designated officer at his destination and was told to forget it. But he could not forget. From that point on, he would drink (and drink) to forget. His chronic alcoholism had limited by then what he could accomplish when sober, and his embarrassing low rank was a reflection of his circumstances and abilities. The rumor was that the Air Force was just keeping him on the the books the last few months until he was able to retire, perhaps because of his war service since he was one of the few WW II vets left on active duty. He knew I was a Christian and he wanted prayer and forgiveness from God for what he had done, but he didn’t know where to start. Some people don’t need the devil to torment them. They do a better job tormenting themselves. Some reach a point that they reject God’s love and forgiveness because they believe their sins to be greater than even the blood of Jesus can wash away. This is certainly not true.

Demon possession also occurs even today, but that is a different topic. If you believe someone is possessed and they want help, a priest or minister is probably preferred to work with them rather than freelancing yourself. I say this because the devil appears to recognize the spiritual authority that is conferred on ordained clergy. Satan may hate this authority, he may mock it, your pastor may be hard pressed to deal with deliverance (exorcism), but all other things being equal, a called and ordained servant of the Word has a better edge in working in this theater (at least in my opinion and experience.) Still, the weakest Christian is potentially more powerful than the strongest demon that exists. This is not because of who you are, but because of Who resides within you.

Until a spiritually oppressed person is free, it will be very difficult if not impossible for them to pray. Each time they try to pray, they may fall asleep, seize, or their mind may become flooded with bizarre ideas, temptations or accusations. Obviously, the “bad guys” are not going to let someone go without a fight. The oppression must be broken with confession for whatever sin is responsible for it. And it may take some time as well. Jesus mentions that in some cases, fasting is required to be successful.

HELPING PEOPLE WITH SUICIDAL IDEATIONS PRAY

There are seven instances in the Bible that refer to suicide. Today:

“Suicide rates between different religions vary. Among the major religions in the US, Protestants have the highest rate of suicide. Roman Catholics had the next highest rate, followed by Jews and Muslims. In most cases, religiosity has been associated with reduced risk of suicide.”

People consider suicide for different reasons. Often, it is because life has become too painful for them, either physically or emotionally. They feel as if they can’t go on. Other times, it might be a lack of self-worth. They just feel like they are unlovable. A waste of space. Older people facing debilitating disease might choose to end their lives so as not to be a burden on their children, or in order to die with a sense of dignity. People who have lost a spouse or a significant other sometimes resort to suicide because of the loneliness. Some people seek to avoid the consequences of their actions which might send them to prison, or bankrupt them, or disgrace them in the community. Many school shooters who are students, themselves, kill their schoolmates and themselves because they were bullied. Others are just ambivalent about life. Still others might see it in romantic (e.g., Romeo and Juliet) terms. In war, a soldier may jump on a explosive device to save their brothers and sisters. But usually, it is difficult to paint suicide in heroic colors.

Simply thinking about suicide does not make you suicidal. But when you add a detailed plan to the mix, then it is time to seek help. In the U.S., dial 988. It’s that simple to talk to someone.

Anger is a common component among suicidal individuals. The anger may arise from some other pre-existing issue (frustration, bullying, perhaps a brain dysfunction.) Someone once said that before a suicidal patient kills himself, he has already wished the death of someone else first. Here is a tragic story about anger and suicide from the Military Times magazine:

“Nineteen suicides have occurred on VA campuses from October 2017 to November 2018 ― seven of them in parking lots, according to data the Washington Post obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Some are worried that this is a gruesome form of protest by veterans to highlight how little help they were given in their time of need by the VA system.”

I’ve had my own frustration with the VA, but considering it’s mission, the amount of support it gets from Congress, and the millions of constituents it has to service, I would give them at least a “B” or “B+.” I understand that not every veteran would be equally generous in scoring them and some vets have much greater problems than I (addiction, homelessness, loss of limbs, etc.)

So, what impediments to prayer might a suicidal person encounter? One impediment is deciding to talk to God in the first place. Like a journey, moving back from a precipice begins with the first step. People who are suicidal are often alienated. They are alienated from their families, their friends, so it should not come as a surprise that they are alienated from God as well. If you have the opportunity to speak to someone who wonders whether life is worth living, you might mention how much Scripture assures us that God loves us, including that person. You might use the analogy of the lost sheep and how the Good Shepherd searches diligently for it. It is important to reinforce that their live has merit, even though their circumstances may not allow them to realize this. And, by taking their life, they are causing the very people around them the very pain that they hoped to “wish away” in taking their life.

There has long been a discussion about whether a decision to end one’s life is a rational choice. If, in fact, it is not (and assuming the person does not fit the profile of people who might seek euthanasia were that a legal option in this country), then the person may not be able to focus rationally on their circumstances. Everyday concerns that would be trivial to us might take on much more weight or onus to a person without the ego resources to analyze or rank what they are facing. They need help putting things in perspective. Listening carefully to their concerns, and occasionally reflecting back what they say might be rewarding. The devil would love for a person to end their lives, just as a wolf would love to bring down a juicy, young caribou. Whether the wolf is successful or not depends on whether he or she can cull the other caribou away from the herd. If it can, then the young deer is lunch. But if the herd surrounds the intended victim, the wolf may run a quick “cost/benefit analysis” and decide the risks of injury to itself are greater than the reward. In that case it will back off. Christians are notorious in withdrawing from people who need emotional support. In many cases, they just don’t know how to minister to them, or what to say. They need training here, and I’ve never been part of a church that does this (provides this training.) This may be just another reason people fall away from the faith.

The absence of a supportive group that forms a psychological “safe space” is bad enough. However, many people who feel pushed towards ending their life report that the people in their lives are negative, judgmental, and make their existence perpetually miserable. This only serves to close the door to other options than suicide. Life is a battle for many people, like a war. In our military forces, we risk our lives to rescue and care for our wounded. We don’t shoot at them when they are lying half dead on the battlefield. We should have this same idea in mind whien it comes to psychological-spiritual damage. As the old Gospel hymn goes: “Rescue the Perishing, Care for the Dying…”

A person contemplating suicide should know that while they may feel an immediate “emotionally release” from prayer, failing this subjective “feeling” does not invalidate the process. It likely took a long time for someone to reach the decision to end their life. And while God’s forgiveness is immediate and absolute, relationships need to be untangled and restored, perhaps some substance abuse problem addressed and so on. Consider the woman in the photo on the tower (above). She might encounter Jesus while 370 feet in the air, but she still must climb down from the tower afterwards.

Being a mentor or companion to someone who has or is considering suicide can be tricky. One day, the depression and gloom seem to be suddenly lifted from them, and you might prematurely want to take a victory lap. But in fact, a positive chance in affect can portend a tragic outcome. It could mean that the person has finally decided to carry out the act. Anyone who has to deal with people with major depressive episodes or a history of self-harm should get their friend to a professional counselor. No doubt there may be webinars you can take online that deal with crisis intervention, but knowing your limitations is the first step in becoming an effective muse and confessor.

A NOTE ON PREVAILING PRAYER

In the passage from Luke noted above, the term “persistency” comes from the Greek word “ἀναίδειαν” (anaideian.) The person in the parable was not knocking gently, hesitantly, or politely. The word translates literally into “shamelessness” or “impudence.” They were literally pounding on the door with no intention of stopping (based on the indefinite sense of the verb.) It was the commotion more than the friendship that roused the shopkeeper from his slumber. In Genesis chapter 18 when God tells Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah are about to be destroyed, Abraham keeps “nagging” God to spare the cities if God can find a handful of righteous people. Rather than tell Abraham to “shut it,” God goes along, giving Abraham and the good citizens of Sodom the benefit of the doubt.

In Hebrews 4:16 the author of this letter says “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Now, normally, I ask for grace and mercy after I’ve sinned. And the devil whispers “How can God fogive you this time?” Or, “You have some nerve asking for forgiveness (again!)” Or, “How do you even know there is a God?” Or, “Don’t bother the man upstairs. He’s too busy with other stuff than to listen to you whine.” Or, “What gives you the right to ask for forgiveness?” The right to ask for forgiveness, the right to pester God for life’s needs like the person above pounding in Heaven’s door comes from our relationship with our Creator and the work that Jesus accomplished on the Cross for our sake. We need not hide like Adam and Eve hid from God, or like Cain did after killing his brother. We are a child of God. When we came to faith, He begain a miraculous process in our life. And He promises to see us through the good time and bad times until it is completed. Paul says in Philippians 1:6:

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Note that God, who is both the author and finisher of our faith, plays this role. We can not, should not even try to do things (justify ourselves) on our own. Wasn’t it Jonathan Edwards who said that the only thing a person contributes to the salvation process is his or her sin? Think of it this way:

Imagine an Olympic runner who holds the fastest time for 100 meters, which means it is below ten seconds. This person’s wife gives birth to a special needs child who is challenged even to walk without braces. Does the Olympian reject his child because the child will never live up to his expectation that the child will follow in his footsteps, or does he love his child nonetheless, warts and all? We cannot live perfect lives, but we can receive God’s forgiveness. We are not strangers trying to sneak in to a place uninvited where we don’t belong. We are family. God’s forever family!

And again, there are heartbreaking exceptions to this rule. I might ask God over and over to be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys to play quarterback, but that is not likely given my age, my abilities and degree of fitness (although the Cowboys, with a current 6-8 record this season, do need help.)

I don’t have a conventient answer to every possible hypothetical scenario, but I believe that the solution begins with the Cross. I also believe that on the Last Day, everything will balance out perfectly, because God is just. As Job said (19:25-27):

“I know that my redeemer lives,
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
    yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
    with my own eyes—I, and not another.
    How my heart yearns within me!”

AFTERWORD

Hopefully, this post will offer insight into the different sorts of behaviors and mental health challenges that every day Christians face, though it barely scratches the surface, of course. Look for more in-depth discussion and specific guidance on these and other issues in future posts.