Health & Well Being
With Dr. Debbie McFarland
Suicide
By Dr. Debbie McFarland
This is one of the most important “Health and Wellness” articles that I can contribute to Heartbeat readers. There are so many lies of the enemy on this subject that I strongly feel are attacking our readers, their families and close friends that this is a timely article. If you are dealing with this topic in any aspect, please read the entire article carefully and print it for others. There are also many drugs that can cause suicidal tendencies, particularly in teenagers and antidepressants. If you are having these feelings, particularly if they do not make sense with your general outlook on life, it very well could be a medication you are taking or an imbalance that is easily controlled by medications or other very easily implemented measures. Don't let this go untreated, hidden or develop into shame.
The first thing you think of when thinking about suicide is hiding it - the issue of shame. Shame is not of God but trying to cover self - as old as the tricks in the garden. So, let's just throw that out at the beginning. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. If you are not a Christian know this, Jesus loves you and wants the very best for you. Hiding in shame is a trick of the devil to keep you from getting healed. The arms of the Savior are open wide right now to receive you just as you are.
When I mentioned the topic of suicide there has already been many questions asking if you commit suicide will you go to heaven? Let's just go another angle at this to begin with - are you going to heaven if you don't commit suicide? Is Jesus your Lord and Savior now? If you are not sure - PLEASE leave me a comment!!! God has desired that you live and live life to the fullest. His desire for you is not death. After my testimony and comments there are many scriptures that discuss what the bible says about suicide and answers for your questions. There are also a ton of resources.
I do not take this issue lightly. It is not funny in any form. It is very important to me for many reasons, one of them being that there is a family curse of depression in my lineage and many 
attempted suicides. There have been many times I have seriously considered this option in my own life - near the point of committing the act or committing myself in the hospital. Over the years I have taught myself how to recognize the warning signs in myself and deal with it immediately. I have a tendency to be very highly motivated. I have huge dreams and goals - plenty of reasons to put myself down - many who would love to see me fail - imbalanced hormones - failures in many attempts in business, etc.
One of the very real things that are easily dealt with that causes these feelings is a medical condition called Mitral Valve Prolapse. When this starts to "Attack" me - I get very anxious, stressed and irritable. A 50cent a day pill almost completely eliminates this.
Fibromyalgia and hormone imbalances give me 3-5 days that I feel like I just want to stop the world and get off for a week - changes in my diet avoiding processed foods, sugar, caffeine, any stimulants of any kind and exercise keeps this under control.
Lack of prayer and bible study is the biggest factor and the easiest one to correct.
One of the biggest helps is letting my husband know right away! I let my friends know to lift me up in prayer and help me. I have learned to accept help from others - to delegate my tasks - to say no - to not take on so much at a time - to seek medical help when needed - To give my burdens to the Lord - to trust Jesus!
If I was owned by shame I would not be alive.
I am a princess of the King of Kings. He loves me with an everlasting love. I am beautiful to myself, to my husband, to my family, to my friends and to my Lord. I have a purpose in this life and I intend to stay here and fulfill it.
Am I saying all of this to get attention? YES!!!! I want to grab your attention. YOU are not alone. The enemy would like nothing better than for us to kill ourselves. Well, I hate him and will not do him any favors.
Listen - I am a good friend. Jesus is a better one! We need flesh and blood friends also. Please let me know what is going on, ok? I will not play your feelings down, I promise.
Lord, I praise you for the ability to write and reach out to the hurting, the fearful, the abused, the mocked, the rejected, the bitter and angry souls, the forgotten, the neglected or the one who has been taken for granted, the one who is in intense and unrelenting pain... You know them and their hurts. Heal them now precious Lord Jesus. Cast out that lying and murderous spirit. Pour in YOUR peace and love and joy. Lead them to one who will walk with them - hold them up - hear their cry.
AMEN.
The information below includes tons of resources. If you are a counselor, prayer warrior, intercessor and want to be a part of this healing team, leave me a comment or email me.
A book recommended for those who are left After the Suicide: "After Suicide" by John Hewett.
From: Christian Answers
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A ugustine argued in the fifth century that suicide was a violation of the sixth commandment, "You shall not murder" ( Exodus 20:13 ). Later, Thomas Aquinas, being catholic and believing that confession of sin must be made prior to departure from the world to the next, taught that suicide was the most fatal of all sins because the victim could not repent of it. The problem with his view is that it represents a gross misunderstanding of eternal security, which Scripture clearly teaches. We are saved by the grace of God, not by works ( Ephesians 2:8-9 ) and nothing can separate a Christian from the love of God ( Romans 8:37-39 ). Other verses that clearly teach assurance of salvation for the believer are: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. However, suicide is not what God wants for anyone. We have a God who loves us and cares for us and promises to meet all of our needs if we place our trust in Him ( Proverbs 3:5-6 ). |
Are you feeling that life isn't worth living anymore? Do your problems seem too big to handle? Does it seem that no one cares? Sometimes these feelings of despair or apathy cause people to think about suicide. What does the Bible say?
Suicide is not a new idea. The Bible records seven suicides.
Abimelech lacked personal identity. |
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Samson |
Samson died for a cause he believed in and for revenge. |
Saul |
Stressed out, unable to live up to certain expectations; felt rejected and a failure |
Saul's armor-bearer |
Impulse, he wanted to die with his boss. 40% of teenage suicide is impulse. |
Ahithophel was bitter because his advice was not followed |
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Zimri |
Rebellion; Zimri had a problem with authority |
Judas |
Depressed, Judas felt trapped by materialism and guilt |
But what does the Bible say about taking your own life?
1. God has a great plan for your life. God has created us in His image ( Genesis 1:26-27 ). He created us for a purpose. God has a specific plan in mind for everyone.
"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 )
2. God's plan is for life, not death. The Bible teaches that both physical and spiritual death is the result of our sin and disobedience to God, but eternal life is a gift to those who receive it.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ( Romans 6:23 )
3. Jesus taught that death and destruction are the work of "the thief" (Satan). He said, "The thief comes only to steal and destroy;" ( John 10:10 ). John 8:44 says that Satan is a "murderer" and the "father of lies". The feelings of despair that lead to suicide are caused by some of his lies.
4. Jesus wants us to have life . He said:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
( John 10:10 )
5. Life belongs to God. It is never our place to take our own life or someone else's life.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. ( 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 )
IF SUICIDE ISN'T THE ANSWER, WHAT IS?
1. The solution to despair and hopelessness is not suicide, but faith in God.
We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you. ( Psalms 33:20-22 )
2. Christ promises that He will give us rest from our problems.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened , and I will give you rest." ( Matthew 11:28 )
3. Tell someone. Tell your parents, your brother or sister, your teacher or school counselor, your pastor or youth minister that you are thinking about suicide. If a friend tells you that he or she is serious about suicide, then you need to tell someone who is responsible and can help.
4. Accept Christ's free gift of eternal life and salvation, if you haven't already. Romans 10:13 says: "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." John 1:12 says: "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."
5. When we accept Christ, God gives us a brand-new life and sees us as completely holy and righteous.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" ( 2 Corinthians 5:17 )
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 )
6. Because of God's salvation through the death of Jesus on the cross, we can have assurance of eternal life with God.
"I tell you the truth; whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. ( John 5:24 )
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Abraham ( Genesis 15 ) Elijah ( 1 Kings 19 ) King Saul ( I Samuel 16:14-23 , etc.) David (Psalms 6 , 13 , 18 , 23 , 25 , 27 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 37-40 , 42-43 , 46 , 51 , 55 , 62-63 , 69 , 71 , 73 , 77 , 84 , 86 , 90-91 , 94-95 , 103-104 , 107 , 110 , 116 , 118 , 121 , 123-124 , 130 , 138 , 139 , 141-143 , 146-147 )
CAIN , son of Adam (having disobeyed God) DAVID , King of Israel (having committed adultery was depressed until he confessed his sin) Release from depression caused by guilt came from confession and seeking God's forgiveness... "For I said in my haste, 'I am cut off from before Your eyes'; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You. Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit. ...I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
David 's humble prayer for forgiveness (an example for us all) "Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight; That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. ...For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering . The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart; These, O God, You will not despise." When you're depressed, place your hope in God. "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. ...For You are the God of my strength..."
"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things. "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." Although things may be difficult, Christians can avoid deep depression. "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed... Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16-18 (NIV) Remember what Jesus Christ went through for us. Remember what the apostle Paul experienced , yet remained focused on the eternal rather than the temporary. When we maintain faith and keep our focus on God's love and the hope He has given us for eternity, Christians can weather the storms of life. It can be done. Paul -- "...I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches."
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." ( Isaiah 40:31 ) How can I be and feel forgiven? Go ... If God forgives me everytime I ask, why do I still feel so guilty? Go ... I think I was sexually abused, but I'm not sure. What Is sexual abuse, and what can I do to stop the trauma I am facing now? Go ... I'm ugly. Why was God so unfair to me this way? Go ... If God knows I am hurting, why doesn't He help me? Go ... Are you thankful to God? GO What does the Bible say about suicide? Go ...
[If this information has been helpful, please prayerfully consider a donation to help pay the expenses for making this faith-building service available to you and your family! Donations are tax-deductible. ] Author: Paul S. Taylor of Eden Communications |
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