The world at war and the pain of suicide in our world today! And what can we do about it today?

Today is Sunday evening and last evening there was a major bombing by the United States military against the nuclear sites in Iran. Are we on the verge of a major war? Can there be anybody that will be able to step forward to be a peacemaker in the world seemingly gone mad...

And unfortunately there is also an epidemic of suicide in many ways among young people, and especially among former war veterans. Have you had any experience with suicide in any way...

Suicide comes from many forces and factors, and what role can our faith in the Lord Jesus play in a world where there is almost death on demand. Stanley Jones was known for speaking right to the point of the moment of the world and the way things were going and the way things were and the mess that people were in.

So today with your permission we are following this path and spend a few minutes talking about war suicide pain and perhaps the meaning of life for today.

 

... And once again STOSH has a follow up commentary

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Peace in a World at War: Stanley Jones, Suicide, and the Battle for Life

By Stan Hustad

The world is at war—and not just in the headlines. Yes, missiles are flying, borders are burning, and nations are at odds. But beneath the noise of conflict, a quieter war is raging: the war within.

If pain were water, the world would drown.

This week, on the Stanley Jones Radio School for Fully Alive Living, we confront the unvarnished reality of our times. It’s not just geopolitics or economic uncertainty. It’s a crisis of the soul. We speak honestly about suicide—the silent epidemic stealing lives in homes, hospitals, barracks, and schools.

And in that darkness, we lift up a light: the life and message of E. Stanley Jones, the world-famous missionary, spiritual teacher, and peacemaker whose work remains a blueprint for healing, transformation, and hope.

A Man of Peace in a Time of War

Stanley Jones was no stranger to war. He tried passionately to prevent World War II and grieved its outbreak as a catastrophic failure of humanity. Yet he never gave in to despair. Why? Because he was a man whose heart beat with the rhythms of a different kingdom—a kingdom of peace, presence, and fully alive living.

He believed Jesus didn’t come just to offer fire insurance for the afterlife. He came to make us fully alive, here and now.

That’s why this broadcast is more than a commentary—it’s a call. A call to be people of peace. A call to help stop the spread of suicide. A call to treat every human being like they are the most important person in the world. Because they are.

Stories from the Frontlines of Pain

In this deeply personal broadcast, I shared a few stories—not to impress, but to confess: that I’ve been to the edge with others, and sometimes we pulled them back.

There was the girl on the bridge. I saw her ready to jump, and by God’s grace, I was able to stop her and call for help. She lived.

There was a businessman in despair. With his friend, I rushed to meet him, sat him down, and we walked through the shadows until he could see light again.

There was a grieving mother. A college leader whose son had taken his own life just before her daughter’s wedding. Her words still echo: “Suicide doesn’t take the pain away—it spreads it.”

These are not just stories. They’re reminders that every one of us has the power to intervene. To listen. To care. To save a life.

The Role of Faith in Mental Health

Stanley Jones never saw a contradiction between the healing arts and the healing power of God. He taught that Jesus came to heal body, mind, and soul. His vision included mental health—long before it was commonly discussed.

Today, organizations like the E. Stanley Jones Foundation, continue that mission—training pastors, caregivers, and community leaders in suicide prevention and compassionate intervention. Not just prevention. Intervention. Being there in the moment. Speaking life when someone is ready to give up.

That work is more important now than ever.

Takeaways for a Hurting World

- Peace is our calling — not passivity, but active peacemaking in the Spirit of Christ.
- Suicide is not a personal failure — it’s often the cry of pain unshared and unseen.
- Every one of us can be a bridge — between despair and hope, between death and life.
- Don’t just ask “What would Jesus do?” Ask “How does Jesus think.
- Remember: taking your life ends your pain—but spreads it to others.

A Call to Action — and to Peace

The enemy is in the death business. We are in the life business. The Spirit of Christ is in the healing business.

Let us be found on that side of history.

This Sunday evening, as we prepare for another week in a weary world, may we seek not only to survive but to serve. To live as fully alive people who can say, “The peace that Jesus gives—I carry it today.”

Pray for peace. Stand for peace. Speak to the lonely. Sit with the hurting. And treat every soul you meet as the most important person in the world.

You never know. You might just save a life.

Final Thought

Stanley Jones used to say, “Jesus is Lord.” So I offer you this benediction:

May the peace that the Lord Jesus gives be real and powerful in your life today.

Let’s bring back the revival of Jones. Not with doctrine, but with presence. Not with noise, but with peace. Be part of the encore generation. Be a lifeline. Be fully alive.