We are often our own worst enemy. What if the friend is creating their dilemma through a suicidal impulse, or giving in to a ‘sow and reap’ consequence through ignorance of the possibilities to improve? Is there no hope our prayer request might override the troubled part of their mind and turn things around?

Indeed, the opposite is the case. Often, the friend of one in need, sees things much more clearly and dispassionately and has a better perspective of that person’s work, and their place in things, including their own involvement with their dilemma, or lack of blame when they have some personal self-destructive impulse that is beyond their control and may have a karmic origin beyond their conscious awareness. There are many complex situations and dynamics of this kind that are not perceived by others or even the individual involved in the struggle directly. So in the case of someone wishing their own demise, this is often misguided and a misalignment for which they need assistance and rescuing, for this may send them on a very dark path and a time of suffering and torment not only in the current life but in the hereafter if they are unable to fully transition to the light and remain in limbo and are preyed upon. There is much at stake in assisting a person who is struggling in this way, and so a person in that frame of mind is truly not the best one to decide their own fate, even though this may be their feeling and their true desire in the moment. It is still not the totality of their being, but only a portion, and often motivated and controlled by the deepest, darkest, inner part that is overwhelmed in having to face many dark thoughts and seeing many dark times in the past and fearing they are coming again. This is all outside conscious awareness for the most part, and sets a person up to self-destruct. It is important to reach out and assist in such instances through love by those who are clearheaded and capable of fostering loving and can do an outreach on behalf of the sufferer. This is always divine. There are no limitations on when and how prayer for another’s benefit can be launched.