Depression is a hard thing to deal with in life. It is even more complicated when that depression is coupled with feelings of suicidality. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), roughly about 21 million people have had a major depression episode at least once in their lifetime. Also, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, there are about 132 suicides daily. These are some staggering statistics and they mean that many people in today's society are hurting. When dealing with severe depression, it does them no good to give trite answers or empty platitudes because they will only serve as salt in an open wound. Depressed and suicidal people do not need friends like Job's worthless counselors. What they need is someone to sit with them and make them feel like they are not alone. You do not even need to say anything whatsoever, but your presence is all they need. In this blog, I shall attempt to give some words of encouragement to those who are dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts, but I will avoid trite answers and empty platitudes. As you read this blog, keep in mind that I too am a fellow sufferer of depression and I have actually attempted suicide many times. I have tried hanging myself and overdosing on my medication multiple times. I even resorted to cutting myself too. On one of my attempts, I ended up in the ICU for about four days. I am saying all this because I want you to understand that I know how you are feeling right now. What I am going to say is stuff that I wish people would remind me of when I am feeling depressed and suicidal. While the Scriptures never directly address suicide, they do have a lot to say about the hope we have in Christ. And that hope will never disappoint us.
The first Scripture I would like to direct your attention to is Romans 5:3-5. This text says,
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us"
Our suffering, no matter what form it takes, is producing our character and hope as we continue to endure. I know that it does not feel pleasant at the current moment, but God calls us to keep moving forward as we keep trusting in Him. The reason we can keep moving forward is because we have His love poured into us by the Holy Spirit. As the Apostle Paul says elsewhere, "The love of Christ compels us..." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). We understand that no matter what we go through in this life, Christ's love for us will get us through it all. This leads me to the next verse I want to share with you. If you turn to Romans 8:37-39, we read,
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord"
The love of Christ for His people is so powerful that absolutely nothing in all creation can or will ever be able to separate us from Him. This means that no matter what you are currently going through, it cannot separate you from the love of the Father. This should give you something to smile about because your Heavenly Father is always on your side. He loves you with an undying love so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for you. I've heard it said that if you were the only person on this earth, Christ would have died just for you. While I do not necessarily think that is a good saying, I do think the truth it is attempting to convey is a good one though. Also, do not think that our Lord cannot sympathize with your plight. If we turn to Hebrews 4:15, we read,
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin"
Jesus Christ as a man has been tempted in every single way that we are being tempted, yet our Lord did not sin. This means it is not a sin to be tempted and it also means that Christ can understand what we are going through at all times. It is because of this that we can come to Him boldly with all our struggles and doubts and frustrations. We do not have to feel ashamed about them. Actually, the Lord wants us to "cast all of our anxieties upon Him" (1 Peter 5:6-7).
The final verse I'd like to bring to your attention is my personal favorite. It is Romans 8:28, which says,
"And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose"
I absolutely love this verse for a couple reasons. For one, it perfectly displays God's sovereignty over all circumstances, which means that no matter what I am facing God is still in control. The second reason I love this verse is that it does not promise that everything I go through will be good, but it does promise that everything I go through will work together for my good. I may not understand at the moment how some tragedy will work out for my good, but I can trust the Lord in His word because He cannot lie. No matter what you are facing, God is much bigger than your troubles and that means you can truly rest in His sovereign care.
I hope that this blog has really helped lift your spirits if you were feeling depressed and suicidal. Trust me when I say that nothing in this life is worth taking your life over. No matter what is going on in your life, take it to the Lord in prayer for He cares about you and He is always in control. Your troubles are not catching Him by surprise. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog and may the grace of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ richly bless you all!!
-David Lee Chu Sarchet
Christian Mental Health Advocate
Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website
Check out the other CCMH Ministry Website
The first Scripture I would like to direct your attention to is Romans 5:3-5. This text says,
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us"
Our suffering, no matter what form it takes, is producing our character and hope as we continue to endure. I know that it does not feel pleasant at the current moment, but God calls us to keep moving forward as we keep trusting in Him. The reason we can keep moving forward is because we have His love poured into us by the Holy Spirit. As the Apostle Paul says elsewhere, "The love of Christ compels us..." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). We understand that no matter what we go through in this life, Christ's love for us will get us through it all. This leads me to the next verse I want to share with you. If you turn to Romans 8:37-39, we read,
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord"
The love of Christ for His people is so powerful that absolutely nothing in all creation can or will ever be able to separate us from Him. This means that no matter what you are currently going through, it cannot separate you from the love of the Father. This should give you something to smile about because your Heavenly Father is always on your side. He loves you with an undying love so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for you. I've heard it said that if you were the only person on this earth, Christ would have died just for you. While I do not necessarily think that is a good saying, I do think the truth it is attempting to convey is a good one though. Also, do not think that our Lord cannot sympathize with your plight. If we turn to Hebrews 4:15, we read,
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin"
Jesus Christ as a man has been tempted in every single way that we are being tempted, yet our Lord did not sin. This means it is not a sin to be tempted and it also means that Christ can understand what we are going through at all times. It is because of this that we can come to Him boldly with all our struggles and doubts and frustrations. We do not have to feel ashamed about them. Actually, the Lord wants us to "cast all of our anxieties upon Him" (1 Peter 5:6-7).
The final verse I'd like to bring to your attention is my personal favorite. It is Romans 8:28, which says,
"And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose"
I absolutely love this verse for a couple reasons. For one, it perfectly displays God's sovereignty over all circumstances, which means that no matter what I am facing God is still in control. The second reason I love this verse is that it does not promise that everything I go through will be good, but it does promise that everything I go through will work together for my good. I may not understand at the moment how some tragedy will work out for my good, but I can trust the Lord in His word because He cannot lie. No matter what you are facing, God is much bigger than your troubles and that means you can truly rest in His sovereign care.
I hope that this blog has really helped lift your spirits if you were feeling depressed and suicidal. Trust me when I say that nothing in this life is worth taking your life over. No matter what is going on in your life, take it to the Lord in prayer for He cares about you and He is always in control. Your troubles are not catching Him by surprise. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog and may the grace of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ richly bless you all!!
-David Lee Chu Sarchet
Christian Mental Health Advocate
Check out the Christ-Centered Mental Health Ministry Website
Check out the other CCMH Ministry Website
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