Every day, many people take their own life for various reasons. Those who are left behind are shattered and broken forever. It’s a tragedy that ends one life and drastically changes many other lives.
This post will always remain a work in progress. It cannot be any other way.
My prayer is that what I post here will help someone, anyone who is considering doing the unthinkable.
I pray that if you, dear reader, are considering ending your life, please, before you take another step, try to reach out to someone in your life who is willing to spend time with you and listen to you.
If you don’t have any family or friends that you think could or would listen to you, then why not approach the Pastor of a local Church? I pray that the Lord would lead you to the person He wants you to speak with.
If you think you have no one or feel like no one you know would understand, will you please get in touch with me? I know you don’t know me, but just because I don’t know you does not mean that I cannot care, does it? Your life is precious to me and most importantly, to God. After all, He is your Maker. No matter how bad the situation is and how hard life is, the answer is NOT suicide 🙁
What I have attempted to do is take some verses out of the Bible to show you just a few reasons why you should not take your own life and why that is not the way out and why, you can still hope!
I have been where you are…
There was a point in my own life when I had lost everything (job, family, relationship, no place to stay), I was convinced that my life was over, that my life is not worth living, that it is better to end it and be free from all the pain and sadness I was experiencing. It was overwhelming. I had not been a Christian for too long and my faith was not mature or strong enough then.
I had figured out how to kill myself with minimal pain and was ready. I was in my apartment all alone (still had a few days there before I had to move out) and no one could have rescued me if I proceeded. But before I took that step, I thought I’d speak to God one last time. I did. Next thing I know, a gentle voice told me to just go to sleep, that everything will be ok. Whether this voice was in my head or audible I don’t know, all I know is that it wasn’t me. I listened.
The next day, I went back to University to meet with my old boss and before I knew it, she had a job for me. Not only that, that same week, I found a place to stay as well, because one of my colleagues from the University (with whom I had worked before when I was working there part-time), had recommitted his life to Jesus and heard that I was homeless and was willing to open his home to me.
God had a plan for me all along and because I listened, here I am today, able to speak about my own experience and encourage those who are going through difficult times.
You may not be in the same position or may experience what I experienced, but know that God loves you and He does not want you to take your own life!
Bible heroes struggled!
Heroes of the faith have struggled with what we term now as depression. In their agony, they have wished that they would die or that they were never born.
so that I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine.
I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning.
Job 7:15-16
If you have not read the book of Job in the Bible, please find time to read it. Job is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. He was an ordinary man with great faith, who went through an extraordinary testing of his faith by God, at the hands of the devil. He is a great example of how we humans can react when things go wrong, but how we should persevere no matter how bad things get. Though Job went through extremely difficult and trying times, he held on to his faith in God and because of his faith and perseverance, Job’s life was restored and his faith rewarded.
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
Psalm 13:2-4
The Bible refers to David as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:13-14). David was under constanst stress and lamented before God because before he became the king, Saul (who was the king at the time) was trying to kill David every opportunity he got! David also made huge mistakes: sleeping with another man’s wife and getting her husband killed (2 Samual 11) are not the actions of a man of God, but God still forgave David and blessed him! If David faced trouble and made mistakes and God still loved him, you can trust God to do the same for you!
Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed!
Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, “A child is born to you—a son!”
May that man be like the towns the LORD overthrew without pity.
May he hear wailing in the morning, a battle cry at noon.
For he did not kill me in the womb, with my mother as my grave, her womb enlarged forever.
Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?
Jeremiah 20:14-18
Jeremiah is one of the greatest and most faithful of the Old Testament prophets and yet, in the verses above, we see him pouring out his heart and crying out to God and wishing he was not born because of all the struggles and trials he is facing. Of course, Jeremiah did not kill himself, but trusted in God to deliver him from everything. And God did save Jeremiah!
YOU cannot save yourself!
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
We cannot save ourselves, no matter how hard we try on our own! Unless you understand and accept this truth, life will always be a struggle!
No amount of self will and positive reinforcement can change that. You have to come to the humble realization that there is One who is bigger than you, One who is mightier than you, One who has all the answers – that One is God Himself. He can save you because it’s His free gift to you, which you have to accept by faith, in faith.
Those who want to run their own lives and want to be in control always, are the one’s who will come to the end of their own strength and feel like there is no way they can go on.
However, if you relinquish control of your life, your thoughts and everything else to Jesus, His Spirit will come in to your life and lead you forward! This is God’s promise for all humanity, including YOU!
God created YOU! (You are not an accident)
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:13-16For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
If you want to know your true worth and while, like the verses above testify, God created you. He had YOU in His mind before your parents ever met. He created YOU exactly the way YOU are. Though life may be hard for you, remember that God did not create you so that you have a miserable life.Everyone has the power to make choices. So, if you or people in your life may have made some bad choices, it does not mean that God could care less about you. You are still His workmanship, if you choose to believe it. If you want to believe that you are nothing but a single celled organism that somehow evolved into a monkey and then evolved into who you are today, well if that makes you happy, would you be reading this post right now?
God has a plan for YOU!
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
The Lord not only created YOU, He has the perfect plan for you. His plans are good. Sometimes the road to seeing that plan come to life may not be pleasant, but where God is involved, you can trust Him with the destination you are heading to!
People may not forgive YOU, but God is always ready, willing and waiting to forgive YOU!
If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
Unlike people, God does not change or flip flop on His decisions, His character. When He forgives, it’s once and for all. He does not hold it over our head all the time and use it against us. You and I know that there are people out there who are unwilling to forgive and much rather hate all the time. God is different.
When God forgives YOU, He chooses to forget what YOU have done!
“..as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Psalm 103:12
Not only does God forgive, He “chooses” to forget your sins and mistakes. Like I said, He does not keep bringing it up to hurt you or cause you pain and grief.
God does not want to destroy YOU! God wants YOU to be saved!
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
There are those who say that God does not care, He does not love and all that. But know that He does not want anyone to be destroyed but everyone to come to Him and be reconciled. So, the next time you hear someone bad mouth God, remember that God wants that very person to be saved as well. He wants to save YOU too!
YOU matter to God! God loves YOU! Jesus died for YOU because He loves YOU!
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Jesus died so that His death would bring YOU new life. A new life and new way of living here on Earth and a place in Heaven with Him for all of eternity! How does that sound?
Jesus loves YOU! Jesus can not only be YOUR Lord and Savior, but YOUR best friend!
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
John 15:12-15
You may not have many friends here on Earth, but in Christ, you get the perfect friend. Sure, you may not be able to see Him or touch Him or hang out with Him, but believe that He is always with you. Can you touch, feel or hold or see air? No, yet you and I breathe it in everyday to live. The Lord Jesus is just like that. He cannot be seen, touch or felt – but He is always there!
Knowing and trusting God while living in this World DOES NOT mean everything will be easy!
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
God did not promise that if you know Him, everything will be a walk in the park. Foolish people say that Christianity/Christ is a crutch that weak people use to keep going in life. If they were to stop and actually focus on the life of a real Christian, they will realize how wrong they are. A Christian struggles everyday just as much as (if not more) than the non-Christians out there. What I am trying to say is that Christianity/following Christ is not the easy fix for life. Being a genuine Christian is hard work, requires perseverance and above all, God’s help! So, if you are thinking that believing in Jesus will immediately solve all your problems and grant you the perfect life, sorry, that’s not how it works.
Jesus can give YOU rest!
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
Jesus has promised rest to His people. This rest is more than a physical rest. It is an emotional, mental and spiritual rest as well. When you are in His rest, NOTHING in the world will matter as much. The Lord gives us a new perspective with which to see and understand everything. When we see and consider everything through His eyes, in the grand scheme of things, we will experience His rest.
Jesus can give YOU peace!
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
The peace that Jesus offers is far greater than the peace you get because you have a job or a nice bank account or a nice house or care or whatever – what I mean is that the peace Jesus offers is far greater than the peace Earthly possessions offer. The peace that Christ offers is able to completely engulf us in such a way that mere words cannot describe how that feels. When you experience it, you will know!
YOU don’t have to know everything and figure everything out!
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
All of us think that we know best. That we are so smart and have a clear understanding of all that is happening in our lives. We foolishly believe that our education, knowledge and “life experiences” are all that is needed to make the “right” decisions and “best” choices concerning our lives. When it comes to God, none of that means anything. What He wants of us is that we trust Him and His ways, not what we think we know or our ways, to make Him a part of our life. Why? Because, He has promised us that He will lead us and guide us. Would you rather follow an imperfect human being with limited understanding and wisdom (YOU and I) or would you rather follow and be led by a God who loves us, wants the best for us and knows what it’s ALL about? Kinda obvious don’t you think?
YOU don’t have to worry if you know Jesus and follow Him!
“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 important than food, and the body more important 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? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Matthew 6:25-33
If God takes care of the birds and animals, how much more will He take care of you and I, who are more precious to Him than everything else in creation?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Focus on God and follow the life style of Jesus and the ways of the Bible and everything else you NEED (not want or desire) will be given to you. How comforting to know that we don’t have to chase after Earthly riches and goods, but rather, we can focus on the Lord, our faith, and trust Him to add everything else to us. This does not mean that we just stay at home and do nothing and just wait on God to just give us everything. We work and do everything we are called to do, but not worrying about the details – but just focusing on God and trusting Him to meet all our needs.
Jesus has a place for YOU in Heaven if YOU choose to believe!
In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
John 14:2
Last but not least, no matter how difficult and sad and painful and hard life may be here on Earth, know that the Lord Jesus has a wonderful place prepared for us when He calls us home to be with Him.
Please don’t hurt yourself or take your own life. I don’t know you, but I am begging you. It’s not worth it. I know that there will be at least one person in this world who will dearly miss you and whose heart would be broken and shattered if you were to end it all and leave them behind.
I am willing to listen to you. I am not perfect and nor am I God, but I know His love is in me. He loves you, therefore, I am called to love you as well (even though I don’t know you).
Even if none of what I have written above convinces you, won’t you at least get in touch with me (if you don’t feel like contacting anyone else)?
The Lord God does not want to see YOU, His child, take your own life and neither do I.
God bless you and keep you safe and remind you that YOU are precious to Him and that He loves you dearly!
in Christ
Sri
Thank Sri 🙂
Dear Sri,
A very important message Sri, you have shared some wonderful truth’s. I pray this post/video reaches those it needs to reach. Through God all things are possible. May His light shine on those in sorrow and despair, may His love and peace fill the hearts of all people who find themselves slipping in to the black hole of depression. May His hand be upon their head, may His voice whisper “everything will be ok”. For He loves ALL His children. There are no orphans of God.
Thank you for writing this post.
God bless you.
Amanda.
Thank you.
You are welcome 🙂
I feel alienated from my family, my friends, the whole world. I just want to accelerate to the end and vanish. Just to walk into the wilderness and not ever be found, but I am terrified of God.
Why do you want to simply vanish? You don’t have to be terrified of God because He’s only terrifying to those who reject Jesus and don’t believe in Him. As long as you are alive, you have the opportunity to get right with God. When you come into a relationship with Jesus, your family/friends/the world may not change, but how you see them will surely change because God will change your heart.