How did people in the Bible respond to hopelessness and suicidal thoughts? - Suicide - TouchPoints

1 Kings 19:3-4Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day.

After Elijah’s greatest victory ended in only more persecution, he not only fled from his persecutors—he distanced himself from everyone else, even his faithful servant. Perhaps he felt like his presence would put his servant’s life in danger. Perhaps he simply didn’t want others to witness his struggle. Whatever the reason, suicidal thoughts often lead us into self-isolation, which only adds to our feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, and hopelessness.

1 Kings 19:4He [Elijah] sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”

1 Kings 19:9-10The Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

When we are wrestling with suicidal thoughts, prayer is often difficult. It may feel like we need to say all the right things and pretend our feelings aren’t so bad. We may even try to hide our suicidal thoughts from God, entirely out of shame. But that is not the prayer Elijah prayed. Elijah was brutally honest about his discouragement and his desire for death. Such prayer may seem hopeless, but in fact, it was a powerful first step. Elijah was honest about his experience, and through that honesty, he drew closer to God, rather than pushing God away.

Jeremiah 15:15-18Then I said, “Lord, you know what’s happening to me. . . . Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry.”

Lamentations 3:48-50Tears stream from my eyes because of the destruction of my people! My tears flow endlessly; they will not stop until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees.

Lamentations 3:18-21I cry out, “My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!” The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.

Jeremiah is known as the “weeping prophet,” and his book of Lamentations is devoted to his grieving. Jeremiah was a faithful prophet, but his warnings to his people were rejected—sometimes violently. In time, that rejection of God led to heavy consequences: the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians and the exile of the people of Judah. Jeremiah had a great deal to grieve over: the apparent failure of his faithful ministry; the personal rejection he faced from his people; the war, destruction, and death that overcame Jerusalem; the poverty, homelessness, and suffering he and the rest of his people now faced in exile; and the fear and pain of feeling abandoned by God. Jeremiah shared his grief freely in his lamentations—honest cries to God of his hopes, fears, frustrations, and sorrows—and Scripture invites us to do the same.

Lamentations 3:20-24I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

Lamentations 3:31-33No one is abandoned by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love. For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.

Lamentations 5:19-22Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation. Why do you continue to forget us? Why have you abandoned us for so long? Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had! Or have you utterly rejected us? Are you angry with us still?

Jeremiah experienced more grief and loss than most of us will ever know, and that grief affected him in ways he would never forget. Yet he still dared to hope. Jeremiah was honest about his feelings, yet he was also honest about God. Amidst his grieving and doubt, he reminded himself of the truth God’s love, mercy, and faithfulness, even when it conflicted with his feelings and immediate experiences.