Resources/Encouragement/Biblical Reflection
By Summer Lane
Photo: Deposit
Suicide is a topic that nobody likes to talk about, but sadly, it is affecting millions of people. According to the CDC, thousands of people take their own lives every year, and millions of Americans seriously think about it, with millions more attempting to end their lives annually.
What does the Bible say about suicide? For those who have fought suicidal ideation and severe depression, it may seem as if there is no hope, but for Christians – and for those who have not yet heard the Gospel – the truth is clear: there is healing and restoration in Christ.
This earthly life is filled with pain and suffering. That’s a fact! In John 16:33, Jesus says, “…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Nowhere in the Bible is there any kind of guarantee that Christians will have a fantasy-filled life free from suffering and strive. In fact, quite the opposite (2 Tim. 3:12, 1 Peter 4:12-13, James 1:2-3, etc.). And yet, the acute suffering we often struggle with hits like a brick to the face – it feels as if we are being punished for something. Perhaps it feels like God has abandoned us. Perhaps it feels like we’re trapped and there’s no way out.
If that sounds familiar, don’t worry – millions of people have been where you are. But remember what the Bible says in 1 Cor. 6:19-20:“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
This is a sobering reminder that our bodies, as Christians, are dwelling places for the Holy Spirit. This is a particularly hopeful verse for so many Christians who struggle with feelings of self-loathing or self-harm. We are reminded that Christ died for us, He loves us, and that our physical bodies, although temporary, are precious and made in the image of God, Imago Dei.
In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, the Bible explicitly warns against harming God’s temple (us!):“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”
And in Romans 12:1, it’s written, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
Our bodies matter. What we do with them matters. How we treat ourselves matters. God loves us, always, unconditionally, and no matter what we do, how we mess up, and how imperfect we are, His grace is enough.
If you are struggling with the hardships of life and feel like there is no hope, spend some time with Jesus today, open the Word of God, and ask Him for help. Ask the people around you for help – find someone you trust, and open up your heart. Don’t be ashamed of asking for help. Your body is a temple of the most High God, and it is worth protecting, cherishing, and caring for.
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“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
Psalm 139:13-16
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If you or someone you know is struggling or needs help, reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
If you are looking for more information about how to live a counter-culture lifestyle with your kids, don’t forget to check out the Counter Culture Mom’s free parent media guide, which will point you in the direction of HUNDREDS of video games, TV shows, movies, apps, books, and more that will replace harmful, godless content with positive messages and good lessons. Download the media guide HERE.
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Suicidal Thoughts: Exposing Satan’s Spiritual War for Our Minds – Dr. Matthew Sleeth
Summer Lane is the #1 bestselling author of 30 books, including the hit Collapse Series and Resurrection Series. She is an experienced journalist and editor who is covering the White House and Trump administration. She owns Write Revolution News.
Summer is also a mom and wife who enjoys rural country living, herding cats, and gardening. She is passionate about writing on women’s issues, parenting, and politics from a theologically-grounded perspective that points readers to the good news of the gospel.
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