What does the Bible say about suicidal thoughts?

What does the Bible say about suicidal thoughts?

While the Bible doesn’t specifically mention suicidal thoughts,  there are examples of faith-filled people who dealt with them. 

If you have suicidal thoughts, it can be a challenge knowing who to turn to for support and guidance.

Luckily, the Lord has left us the word of God, which remains relevant after thousands of years and serves as a valuable tool for teaching, rebuking, and instilling in us a sense of hope and freedom during our darkest moments.

Before we go any further, if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call or text 988 to reach someone at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 

We hope that in this season of life, you will find the help that you need either by contacting someone at the number above or by digging deeper into what we are going to be discussing today.

Remember the Lord is with you; you don’t have to do this alone.

The Sanctity of Life

Life is precious to the Lord. In our world, we can see intentionality everywhere we look: from the way our bodies function to the creation of our planet. Everything was created to harness and sustain life.

Early on in the Bible, the Lord makes provision to ensure that life is protected.

In Exodus 20, the Lord hands down the 10 Commandments to Moses, one of the most important can be found in verse 13: You shall not murder. Murder here is the taking of a life without legal justification. 

Suicide, by extension, would then be self murder.

“For life of the flesh is in the blood,” according to Leviticus 17:11, and the life belongs to the Lord, to give or take. As people of God our priority is to safeguard it until the Lord exercises His will.

Does being a Christian exempt you from suicidal thoughts?

Absolutely not! We see many instances in the Bible where the forefathers of our faith struggled with this very thing.

Ecclesiastes 2:17 King Solomon says, “Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping the wind.”

1 Kings 19:4, after one of the most epic displays of God’s power, we see the prophet Elijah run for his life as Queen Jezebel sought to kill him. Elijah pleaded, “Now, Lord, take my life, I am no better than my fathers!”

Jonah was so disgusted that the Lord would spare the cruel Ninevites that he would have sooner died than lived in a world where they were not punished (Jonah 4:8).

And Paul, during his many trials, confesses that they “were burdened, beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life” 2 Corinthians 1:8.

So you see, even men of great faith struggled with the weight of life. But just as there is proof of our brokenness within the world, there is hope for our troubled hearts, and for those we go to the word.

Hopeful thought #1: Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses. 

Hebrews 4:15-16 states, “For we do not have a High Priest who can empathize with awareness, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” 

Hopeful thought #2: Our suffering is not meaningless

Romans 5:3 says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who was given to us.”

Finding joy in our darkness can seem ridiculous, and even impossible. But the takeaway here is to know that not only has Jesus been in your shoes, but He has left a helper in the Holy Spirit to pour out His love on you continuously, and that in itself can bring great comfort.

Hopeful thought #3: There is no condemnation for you

Romans 8:1 says, “there is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Struggling with suicidal thoughts can bring a lot of self-judgment and self-recrimination. The feeling that you cannot overcome your circumstances, while being a Christian, can seem like a failure, but just because we now follow Christ does not exempt us from the human experience and everything that comes with it. Give yourself grace for your humanity as the Lord does.

Does suicide determine your destiny?

According to the Bible, suicide alone does not determine your destiny.

While self murder is considered a sin, we see that Christ came not to die just for one sin, but to die for all of them.Colossians 2:13-14 says, “and you, being dead in your trespasses, and the uncircumcised of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven all your trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

Furthermore, Jesus tells us that there is only one unforgivable sin.

Matthew 12:32 states, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.”

Practical ways to weather the storm.

This would not be a Holy Culture article without giving you some tools to deal with what you are going through. So here are some action steps that you can do right now.

1. Go outside. It is a scientific fact that vitamin D from the sun helps alleviate symptoms of depression. While you can take vitamin D supplements, there’s nothing better than the real thing. If you are fair-skinned, stay outside at least 20 minutes; if you are darker, double that time. You want to ensure that the sun’s rays penetrate your skin and begin to affect the physical side of your mental state.
2. Eat better. Did you know chocolate is a natural mood enhancer? Facts. Chocolate encourages the release of endorphins aka the happiness hormone. Eating less sugar and carbs can also help eliminate the brain fog and sugar crashes that often follow eating, which, let’s face it, keeps you inside longer. Consider adding fresh fruits to your meals to cut artificial foods and sweeteners to combat vitamin deficiencies that could be making your anxiety or depression worse.
3. Tap into your community. Galatians 6:2 tells us to bear each other’s burdens, and 1 Thessalonians 5:14 tells us to encourage the faint-hearted and help the weak. While you may be at a place where you need encouragement, there is something that happens within you when you can help and lift others up.
4. Confess. Confession is an underutilized gift of the believer. When you absolutely bare your soul to God in all the things that you can’t say out loud, He shows up for you in amazing ways. If you have someone in your life you can trust, I highly encourage you to open up to them, too.
5. Get in your Word. Paul describes the Word of God as a sword, cutting to the heart to dig out all impurities with the help of the Holy Spirit. We can also use it to fight the thoughts that threaten to overtake us, “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2),” that can only happen, however, if you’re in the world of God daily. I suggest starting with Psalm.
6. Pay attention to what you listen to and watch. CHH came into my life when I was struggling with my mental health. As I listened to the words in the music, it shifted my focus from my own issues to how big my God was and is. What is going into your ears matters. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing the word of the Lord (Romans 10:17).” If it does not glorify the Lord, cut it out of your life. Let your brothers and sisters in the entertainment industry speak faith into you through their art.

Do not be discouraged.

There are so many reasons that you should stay. There are people here who love you, need you, and are cheering you on.

This does not have to be the end of your story. It can be just the beginning.

Jesus died a horrible death so that you may live life to the fullest (John 10:10). He knows what you are going through, and He sent you a helper in the Holy Spirit to get you through this season.

Confess all your darkest thoughts to Him and ask Him to shine His light on you, breaking the chains of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. You were blood-bought and redeemed for His purposes; it’s time to claim your freedom in him today.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts and ideation, call or text 988.

What does the Bible say about suicidal thoughts?

What does the Bible say about suicidal thoughts?

While the Bible doesn’t specifically mention suicidal thoughts,  there are examples of faith-filled people who dealt with them. 

If you have suicidal thoughts, it can be a challenge knowing who to turn to for support and guidance.

Luckily, the Lord has left us the word of God, which remains relevant after thousands of years and serves as a valuable tool for teaching, rebuking, and instilling in us a sense of hope and freedom during our darkest moments.

Before we go any further, if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call or text 988 to reach someone at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 

We hope that in this season of life, you will find the help that you need either by contacting someone at the number above or by digging deeper into what we are going to be discussing today.

Remember the Lord is with you; you don’t have to do this alone.

The Sanctity of Life

Life is precious to the Lord. In our world, we can see intentionality everywhere we look: from the way our bodies function to the creation of our planet. Everything was created to harness and sustain life.

Early on in the Bible, the Lord makes provision to ensure that life is protected.

In Exodus 20, the Lord hands down the 10 Commandments to Moses, one of the most important can be found in verse 13: You shall not murder. Murder here is the taking of a life without legal justification. 

Suicide, by extension, would then be self murder.

“For life of the flesh is in the blood,” according to Leviticus 17:11, and the life belongs to the Lord, to give or take. As people of God our priority is to safeguard it until the Lord exercises His will.

Does being a Christian exempt you from suicidal thoughts?

Absolutely not! We see many instances in the Bible where the forefathers of our faith struggled with this very thing.

Ecclesiastes 2:17 King Solomon says, “Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping the wind.”

1 Kings 19:4, after one of the most epic displays of God’s power, we see the prophet Elijah run for his life as Queen Jezebel sought to kill him. Elijah pleaded, “Now, Lord, take my life, I am no better than my fathers!”

Jonah was so disgusted that the Lord would spare the cruel Ninevites that he would have sooner died than lived in a world where they were not punished (Jonah 4:8).

And Paul, during his many trials, confesses that they “were burdened, beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life” 2 Corinthians 1:8.

So you see, even men of great faith struggled with the weight of life. But just as there is proof of our brokenness within the world, there is hope for our troubled hearts, and for those we go to the word.

Hopeful thought #1: Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses. 

Hebrews 4:15-16 states, “For we do not have a High Priest who can empathize with awareness, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” 

Hopeful thought #2: Our suffering is not meaningless

Romans 5:3 says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who was given to us.”

Finding joy in our darkness can seem ridiculous, and even impossible. But the takeaway here is to know that not only has Jesus been in your shoes, but He has left a helper in the Holy Spirit to pour out His love on you continuously, and that in itself can bring great comfort.

Hopeful thought #3: There is no condemnation for you

Romans 8:1 says, “there is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Struggling with suicidal thoughts can bring a lot of self-judgment and self-recrimination. The feeling that you cannot overcome your circumstances, while being a Christian, can seem like a failure, but just because we now follow Christ does not exempt us from the human experience and everything that comes with it. Give yourself grace for your humanity as the Lord does.

Does suicide determine your destiny?

According to the Bible, suicide alone does not determine your destiny.

While self murder is considered a sin, we see that Christ came not to die just for one sin, but to die for all of them.Colossians 2:13-14 says, “and you, being dead in your trespasses, and the uncircumcised of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven all your trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

Furthermore, Jesus tells us that there is only one unforgivable sin.

Matthew 12:32 states, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.”

Practical ways to weather the storm.

This would not be a Holy Culture article without giving you some tools to deal with what you are going through. So here are some action steps that you can do right now.

1. Go outside. It is a scientific fact that vitamin D from the sun helps alleviate symptoms of depression. While you can take vitamin D supplements, there’s nothing better than the real thing. If you are fair-skinned, stay outside at least 20 minutes; if you are darker, double that time. You want to ensure that the sun’s rays penetrate your skin and begin to affect the physical side of your mental state.
2. Eat better. Did you know chocolate is a natural mood enhancer? Facts. Chocolate encourages the release of endorphins aka the happiness hormone. Eating less sugar and carbs can also help eliminate the brain fog and sugar crashes that often follow eating, which, let’s face it, keeps you inside longer. Consider adding fresh fruits to your meals to cut artificial foods and sweeteners to combat vitamin deficiencies that could be making your anxiety or depression worse.
3. Tap into your community. Galatians 6:2 tells us to bear each other’s burdens, and 1 Thessalonians 5:14 tells us to encourage the faint-hearted and help the weak. While you may be at a place where you need encouragement, there is something that happens within you when you can help and lift others up.
4. Confess. Confession is an underutilized gift of the believer. When you absolutely bare your soul to God in all the things that you can’t say out loud, He shows up for you in amazing ways. If you have someone in your life you can trust, I highly encourage you to open up to them, too.
5. Get in your Word. Paul describes the Word of God as a sword, cutting to the heart to dig out all impurities with the help of the Holy Spirit. We can also use it to fight the thoughts that threaten to overtake us, “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2),” that can only happen, however, if you’re in the world of God daily. I suggest starting with Psalm.
6. Pay attention to what you listen to and watch. CHH came into my life when I was struggling with my mental health. As I listened to the words in the music, it shifted my focus from my own issues to how big my God was and is. What is going into your ears matters. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing the word of the Lord (Romans 10:17).” If it does not glorify the Lord, cut it out of your life. Let your brothers and sisters in the entertainment industry speak faith into you through their art.

Please Stay

There are so many reasons that you should stay. There are people here who love you, need you, and are cheering you on.

This does not have to be the end of your story. It can be just the beginning.

Jesus died a horrible death so that you may live life to the fullest (John 10:10). He knows what you are going through, and He sent you a helper in the Holy Spirit to get you through this season.

Confess all your darkest thoughts to Him and ask Him to shine His light on you, breaking the chains of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. You were blood-bought and redeemed for His purposes; it’s time to claim your freedom in him today.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts and ideation, call or text 988.

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