By Owie Aideyan
Every day, men wake up with the world already on their shoulders. Bills stare at them. Families look up to them. Society expects them to always be strong, to never break, to never cry. But behind the smile, behind the sharp suits and fake confidence, lies a battlefield of pain, fear, and silent tears that no one sees.
There are men walking around right now with heavy hearts, yet everyone assumes they are fine because they don’t talk. Some of them lie awake at night, staring at the ceiling, thinking of ending it all because life has dealt them blow after blow. Struggle has become their daily companion, and peace feels like a stranger.
The world doesn’t see their sacrifices. Nobody sees the man who skips meals so his children can eat. Nobody notices the father who leaves home at 5 a.m. and returns at midnight, only to still be called a failure because life hasn’t given him wealth. Nobody listens when a husband says he’s tired, because men are not “allowed” to be tired.
Life has been unfair to so many men. They give their best, yet get the worst. They love deeply, yet are betrayed. They work hard, yet remain broke. Some struggle with unemployment after years of education, some with debts that seem impossible to clear, and some with broken homes where they are no longer respected. And through it all, they carry their pain silently, afraid to speak for fear of being mocked or misunderstood.
Right now, there are men sitting in cars, parked by the roadside, with tears rolling down their faces because home doesn’t feel like home anymore. Some are drowning in loans they can’t repay. Others are watching their marriages crumble despite everything they’ve done to keep it together. Some have trusted people who used that trust to destroy them.
And in their weakest moments, thoughts of suicide creep in. The idea of finally escaping the pain, of finally finding peace, becomes tempting. Not because they don’t love their families, but because they feel like their families will be better off without a man who is always failing, always struggling.
But even in that darkness, many men still whisper prayers. They still cry out to God at night: “Lord, please help me. Don’t let me drown. Don’t let this pain consume me.” Some are holding on by just a thread of faith, hoping that maybe, just maybe, tomorrow will bring better news.
This silent battle men face is not weakness — it is humanity. Every strong man you see may be one bad day away from giving up. And that is why compassion is needed more than ever. To check on your brother, your friend, your husband, your father. To remind them that their lives matter, that they are loved, and that their story isn’t over yet.
The truth is, behind many men’s laughter is pain. Behind their silence are battles they cannot explain. And behind their strength is a brokenness they are too scared to reveal.
This is the struggle some men are going through right now — invisible, heavy, and soul-crushing. They cry not because they are weak, but because life has been unfair. And while some may think suicide is the way out, what they truly want is peace, relief, and a reason to keep going.
So, if you are reading this and you are a man in pain, let this be your reminder: you are not alone. Cry out to God. Hold on, even if it’s by a thread. The world may not see your struggles, but your survival is proof of your strength. Your story isn’t finished yet — don’t let the darkness end it too soon.
