Don’t Lose Hope: What the Bible Says About Suicide and Depression

Most people are largely underinformed, so they are very easily misinformed.

Depression: A mental condition characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt, often accompanied by lack of energy and disturbance of appetite and sleep.

We are physical, emotional and spiritual beings.

We are equipped with a body, a soul and a spirit.

Body • Physical

Soul • Emotional

Spirit • Spiritual

Depression must be viewed from a biological-psychological-social-spiritual perspective.

Major Depressive Disorder is a clinical diagnosis that causes significant distress and impairs functioning.

Depression isn’t always associated with our circumstances.

While depression is a common experience, there isn’t necessarily a common cause. • Neurobiology and genetic predisposition • Chronic stress • Trauma • Adverse Childhood Experiences • Sinful behavior or sinful thoughts

Depression may not have a spiritual cause, but it is a deeply spiritual experience.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.Psalm 42:5

Depression and all suffering brings us face-to-face with critical spiritual realities.

It’s okay to be depressed, you just can’t live there.

Depression and emotional unwellness will be part of the journey, it just can’t be the destination.

Feelings are not necessarily sinful, and having depression doesn’t make you a “bad” Christian, but how we process our feelings can be sinful.

Oftentimes, Christians lose hope.

Sometimes Christians feel so badly they want to die.

Suicide is a permanent solution for a temporary situation.

People who commit suicide have an overwhelming feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness.

For most suicidal people, the goal is not death, but stopping emotional pain.

Suicide doesn’t end the suffering for those around you, it only takes it to a new level that never leaves.

Suicide always creates more pain than it alleviates.

What Does the Bible Say About Suicide? Taking your own life is a sin.

There is no sin so great to separate us from God’s grace.

Salvation for any person rests in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, not in abstaining from sinful acts.

How do Christians deal with depression?

Focus on Jesus.

Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.Psalm 17:7

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.Psalm 19:1-3

What you are feeling will get better.

It is a process.

The goal is not to stop feeling, but to embrace and process our feelings.

Emotion is what makes us human. You’ve gotta feel it to heal it.

You need to be surrounded by a loving, caring, committed group of Christians.

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.Galatians 6:2

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.Romans 15:1

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.Romans 12:15

Is it a sin to take medication for depression?

It is not a sin to take medication that will allow you the clarity to fix your focus on Jesus.

“Of course, by itself medicine is never a solution to spiritual darkness. All the fundamental issues of life remain to be brought into proper relation to Christ when the medicine has done its work.” -John Piper

The cure for hopelessness is hope and Jesus should always be our first option, not the last.

Antidepressants will not give you hope, but they might make you feel less miserable.

Medication vs. No Medication?

“It is unclear whether medication is any more helpful than counseling. (And it is unclear whether counseling is any better, overall, than talking with a wise friend.) Even in cases of severe depression, careful analysis of the evidence does not always demonstrate the superior effectiveness of medication over secular counseling. You would expect at least similar results when you allow Scripture to guide you.” -Ed Welch

It is a sin to put my whole hope and lasting trust in anything other than Jesus.

The search for hope and joy in any other place than Jesus will lead to disappointment.

You cannot medicate away the problems of life.

We must train our heart on the things that are true.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.Philippians 4:8

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

You have God as your Father.

You have Jesus as your Brother.

You have the Holy Spirit at work inside you.

You have the promises of the Word of God.

You have a pastor who prays for you.

You have a church family that loves you.

You have what it takes to make it.

God is not only the God of the victory, but the God of the process.

Hope is a skill that takes practice. We must PRACTICE OUR FAITH.

Joy in Jesus and lasting hope requires a commitment to renewing your mind and trusting in the promises of God that He is walking with you through the darkness.

How to help someone else • Listen and validate their feelings. • Ask if they’ve thought of hurting themselves. If so, offer to go with them to get help. • Pray for them and check back in to see how they’re doing. • Point them to resources to help.

How to help yourself • Don’t isolate yourself. You need REAL relationships. • Take a social media sabbatical. • Be more faithful to church, not less. You need a church family. • Take care of yourself. Diet, exercise, plenty of sleep, meditation.
• Self-medication is not the same thing as self-care.

Get the help that you need. • See your doctor. Get a CBC and hormone levels checked • Speak with a therapist • Talk to your pastor • Read the Psalms and megadose on Truth. • Commit to the process

Weakness isn’t a character defect, it’s a design feature.

God provides physical and emotional care during times of distress.

God meets us in our loneliness and speaks comfort to our hearts.

Loneliness feels like comfort, but it’s a trap!

God’s purpose extends beyond our present struggles.

God isn’t done with you yet!

This is just part of the journey, it isn’t the destination.