*Contains offensive strong language
Logic’s Reasons for Feeling Hopeless
In the first and only verse of “Call Me,” Logic details a myriad of things that could make a person feel like life is not worth living. First, he raps that:
Weight of the world make it impossible to stay afloat
And the demons we battle with make it harder to cope
Why you think we get addicted to alcohol and dope?
General struggles in life can lead some people to addiction, which becomes a vicious cycle with no exit, leading a person deeper and deeper into despair. Drugs or alcohol become both what keeps a person going and what is slowly killing them and sucking the joy from their life. This cycle can make life feel unlivable. In Logic’s words,
For people like us being happy is just a daydream
Because addiction can make happiness seem unattainable, suicide may become an absorbing possibility. Sometimes suicide can feel like the only option to escape from unhappiness, shame, or pain. Logic continues, explaining that addiction is not the only thing that can take away a person’s desire to live:
Beyond drugs, it’s day to day sh**
Constantly comparin’ yourself to others and they sh**
Even for those without addiction, the universal impulse to compare ourselves to others can make us feel worthless and unlovable. Logic acknowledges all of these difficulties people may struggle with, but then declares that none of these things take away a person’s self-worth. He encourages his listeners to know their self-worth and to reach out to those around them, even when it feels like no one cares about them.
Christianity’s Reasons for Hope
Logic raps that “know your self-worth” is the whole meaning behind the first verse of “Call Me.” In fact, the song only has one verse, so you could say that “know your self-worth” is the meaning behind the whole song. Because of his personal struggle with mental health and suicide, Logic is deeply invested in helping others who struggle similarly; but besides this, he does not give any strong reason for a person to believe that they actually do have worth. Christianity, on the other hand, has a strong reason for why we have self-worth: we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). We have value because no matter who we are or what we struggle with, we reflect the nature and glory of God. Because Christians have a reason to believe that we are all valuable, we are uniquely equipped to respond in truth and love to those struggling with suicidal ideation.
Despite not having a good basis for encouraging his listeners to “know their self-worth,” Logic makes accurate observations about why people struggle with self-worth and suicide. Feeling like life is not worth living does not usually “just happen;” catastrophes in life, family problems, addiction, mental illness, or even mundane stresses and challenges can bring a person to a place of feeling like life is not worth living. It is all too easy for a person to get to a point where they do not feel as if anyone cares for them and that life is not worth living. It is precisely in these moments and seasons of struggle where community is vital.
Not only does Christianity offer a reason for us to believe that we have value and that life is worth living, it also does (or should be able to) provide a supportive community for those struggling. Sometimes, when a person is grappling with suicidal thoughts or the root reasons for those thoughts, Christians may focus on the sins related to the struggles. In some cases, Christians even say that a person cannot be a true Christian if they are experiencing suicidal thoughts. However, although suicide is wrong—as are many of the things that may lead to suicidal thoughts, like addiction—it is not true that such thoughts mean a person cannot be a Christian. Neither is there reason to think that if someone does die by suicide this means that they have committed an unforgivable sin and will be separated from God forever. It should be the heart of the Church to love and support those who are struggling with these thoughts and feelings. The struggles that Logic highlights in “Call Me” can best be met by a loving Christian community. For anyone struggling with suicidal feelings or hopelessness, fear of judgment may keep you from sharing this turmoil with anyone else. Even surrounded by others who care about us, we can feel alone in our struggle. However, the best place to seek help is in a loving Christian community.1
Logic’s words should be the words of Christians for those struggling: “ Call Me.”
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