Depression or Pride: Suicide - April 15, 2007

A prime-minister takes his life. A teenager determines to end it all. Is too low a view of self the culprit? As Christians we are often taught to love ourselves. We wrongly interpret the words of Jesus, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). We pervert these words. We don't need to learn to love ourselves before we can love others. We already love ourselves too much. We readily put ourselves first. We do almost everything with old number one in mind. Jesus tells us to love others as much as we already love, cherish, and care for ourselves.

Then why do people threaten suicide? They are making self-centered demands for attention. They make the threat to gain the demanded attention. We correct little children for such behavior. What about suicide? From this perspective, isn't it an act of selfishness? We reject the control other people or situations exercise over our lives. In suicide, we think we take ultimate control over our lives.
Before you reject these thoughts, test them by the Bible. "For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for it we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord" (Romans 14:7-8). If we commit suicide to please ourselves, that suicide is an act of selfishness and pride.

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I have never sereiously contemplated suicide although I have felt trapped by my depression. Trapped because I do believe suicide is an act that is self centered and yet there have been times I have been in such a deep, dark place I felt there was no way out. Sometimes you just don't think correctly and I believe this can be a dangerous time. I do believe there are poeple with chemical imbalances. I don't know if I am one of them. All I know is that I have had long episodes of unrelenting depression. I have cried out to God with every fiber of my being and yet the depression remains. You get weary after awhile and just want peace.

My husband has said, suicide is an awful permanent solution, for a temporary problem.....I believe that is true.

God gave me an experience when I was an 11 year old child, and he has used it time, and again to remind me a problem is only an opportunity to see the hand of God.

The experience:

A warm Sunny day in the Spring.
My girlfriend, Carol, and I were going to ride our bikes into Puyallup and get them licensed.
WE would meet Mom at the berry cabins later on.

As we started out that day, Carol was full of questions about Jesus.
They had a Jehovah witness come by the house the day previous, and Carol knowing I was Christian wanted to ask some things.
I answered her questions as well as an 11 year old knew how, and had a sense of God presence as we road along.
WE came to a steep hill, and our bikes picked up speed, that drew my attention back to the road., and ahead I noticed our side of the road was all washed out with chuck holes and ruts from the spring rains and run off. It was a mess!

I thought to myself, "I'll go around", when I heard a strong masculine voice , behind and above me, command, "No! Go Through!"
I obeyed the voice, forcing Carol to also, as I was slightly ahead of her, and on the inside of the road.
AS we went through all those ruts,and holes, a car came speeding around a blind corner, and past us, coming up the hill.
Had we gone around we would have been hit head on!
Carol looked at me with a shocked look and asked, "Did God tell you to do that?" and I answered simply, but in wonder, "Yes, He did!"

Not only did he save our lives that day, but in years to come God used that experience to draw me back to himself.

By the time I was 13 I had been abandoned, abducted, and forsaken, which led to an ungodly marriage , abuse, and hopelessness.
At one point I thought of suicide, but God stayed my hand., and in the middle of it all he came to me at my lowest point, and reminded me of that day on the road.....his silent voice speaking in my mind said to me, remember that day? That was real, you need to come back to God.... 3 times he prompted my memory of that day.
When I said Yes Lord, I need to come back, the fog lifted, and I started my journey home.

The trials have not ended,but I know that through each one, God will see me through, and he has.

WE have many bumps, ruts,and holes in our life, but if we respond to
His words of love, and obey him, he will see us through.

From faith to faith as we apply our heart, and our trust, we have hope, for he is always there, and knows what is just around those blind corners.

What he has done for others, he will do for you, he is no respecter of persons, and will meet you right where you are in your own personal need.
He is your personal Savior, and he knows already, every need of your life.
Trials are truly only opportunities in our lives to see the loving hand of God.....Trust him

Thank you for your post. It offers tremendous encouragement. I want Jesus more than anything in my life. It is just so hard to completly trust. I feel like doubting Thomas.

Just believe.
Faith even as small as a mustard seed can move mountains, so to speak, for even small faith in a great God, is enough.
He knows your heart, and even now as you lay this out before him by speaking your heart, he hears, and understands, and cares for you.

Ask, and it shall be given you, seek, and you shall find, knock, and the door shall be opened unto you....that's a promise, and God cannot lie.

Matt. 6:8 and 7:7

Originally Posted by Chad

As Christians we are often taught to love ourselves. We wrongly interpret the words of Jesus, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). We pervert these words. We don't need to learn to love ourselves before we can love others. We already love ourselves too much. We readily put ourselves first. We do almost everything with old number one in mind. Jesus tells us to love others as much as we already love, cherish, and care for ourselves.

Then why do people threaten suicide? They are making self-centered demands for attention. They make the threat to gain the demanded attention. We correct little children for such behavior. What about suicide? From this perspective, isn't it an act of selfishness? We reject the control other people or situations exercise over our lives. In suicide, we think we take ultimate control over our lives.
Before you reject these thoughts, test them by the Bible. "For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for it we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord" Romans 14:7-8

I take exception to your making this issue out to be so simple.
Typically, it's not.

Yes, people are crying out.. for help.. in it's most extreme form, this is what they are doing.

You've convoluted the subject by intermixing a person of faith, and one who is not of faith.
For one who has no faith, certainly we can conclude they posses less hope, than one who has faith.
The two, of course, could not be any farther apart from each other.


One definition of depression is 'suppressed anger'. That, of someone who still blames themself for things which have happened to them, and have not yet learned.. it's actually not their fault.
Or, they haven't yet learned to forgive themselves, and have not yet understood, it is the most important part of their inner healing.


LoJ

You are right about the fact that suicidal people often try to get attention. However the context of said attention can be argued. I myself have had terrible suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, anger at myself, anger at others, and I hate it. I want to be normal like everyone else. Especially when it was really bothering me before I got on medication (which turned me into a zombie most of the time, anyway) I often tried to harm myself or cry out that I was going to end it all so someone could possibly help me before I did.

I wanted to die. I really did. The attention I was seeking was not just to get someone to say "oh, look at that poor soul", it was attention so that I could be directed towards real* help of some kind before my confusion and problems made me do something I would eternally regret.

I believe there are many people like me who have suffered greatly or more so, and call out for help. Cry out for help. Cry out for some form of resolution to their impending mistake of suicide. I believe that suicide is a long term solution to a temporary issue. We don't have to be full of anger, self-hate, anxiety and confusion. But for those who are, it's best we try to understand and educate them to why suicide can never be considered the best way to solve the problem. And help them ultimately tackle depression without the use of often more destructive anti depressants.

Suicide is like killing your dog because he barked at your neighbor one time.

Originally Posted by bjorkd02

Thank you for your post. It offers tremendous encouragement. I want Jesus more than anything in my life. It is just so hard to completly trust. I feel like doubting Thomas.

bjorkd02 Be encouraged, God loved doubting Thomas too.

When you read through the 4 Gospels, what do you see?

You see Jesus seeking out those in need, like you, and me.

He mingled with the doubters, the cast offs, the socially unaccepted, for he saw past there faults, and saw their need.

He was tender hearted toward them,like a shepherd with his sheep.

Loved them, spoke truth to them, and said, "Come unto me,All ye that are burdened,and heavy laden and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.Matt.11:29-30
A beautiful, powerful, simple message.
Come, He will not cast us away. John 6:37

Originally Posted by Lion_of_Judah

I take exception to your making this issue out to be so simple.
Typically, it's not.

Yes, people are crying out.. for help.. in it's most extreme form, this is what they are doing.

You've convoluted the subject by intermixing a person of faith, and one who is not of faith.
For one who has no faith, certainly we can conclude they posses less hope, than one who has faith.
The two, of course, could not be any farther apart from each other.


One definition of depression is 'suppressed anger'. That, of someone who still blames themself for things which have happened to them, and have not yet learned.. it's actually not their fault.
Or, they haven't yet learned to forgive themselves, and have not yet understood, it is the most important part of their inner healing.


LoJ

But self is still the focus and inner healing will never come while focused on self.

Many think that low self-esteem is the culprit and try to encourage the person to think of themselves as highly-valued. But self-esteem is the root of the problem regardless of it's measure.

The best remedy for depression is found in the scriptures.
John 15:9-12
9*“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10*When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. 11*I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12*I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you.

If we will focus on Christ and love others we will be filled and overflowing with joy.

Originally Posted by Chad

Depression or Pride: Suicide - April 15, 2007

Then why do people threaten suicide? They are making self-centered demands for attention. They make the threat to gain the demanded attention.

aww.. hehe . i remembered my cousin telling one time she wanted to die and getting hysterical. i got a knife and tell her "ok, now kill yourself".. lol.. She was shocked and changed her mood immediately then laughed at the end.. lol

of course that's a very dangerous thing i did unless the Lord has His guidance.


blessings to all of us!!!!!!!!!!!


Sis. Reymielin


"The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." Isaiah 50:4