Is it Sinful to Feel Suicidal?

Its just doubt and we all experience it in different ways, God understands that we are but flesh and will struggle.

Contemplating suicide is not a sin. It is our response to feeling out of control of our situation and overwhelmed. During such times, we must turn to God and ask for His help. He understands man's struggles and will lead us to the light. Please don't think that God is going to punish you for thinking in such a way. He will not punish but embrace you with His love. He is there during our darkest moments. He is the light. Don't be afraid of God. He is Love. He is our Hope. He is our Savior.

As St Paul once cried 'O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me of this body of death?' and who can forget Job's lament to God: 'I would choose strangling and death rather than my bones, I loathe my life; I would not live forever...'?

Take courage! You are in good company, and you have not lost the loving God who is always faithful and 'will never let you be tempted beyond your ability'.

Even the greatest saints were never rid of temptations and upsetting, even sinful, inclinations intruded into their hearts, and that sadly makes up part of life, for the enemy is always walking about seeking whom he may devour. They however, 'being rooted and established' in the love of God, felt distressed by these feelings and chose to resist them patiently clinging on to God's promises, until He finally called them from this world.

But these thoughts can be powerful. It may be worth asking yourself when these thoughts come upon you: how do they make you feel? What do you do in response? Are there some things in your life that make you think about ending it? How often and how long do these thoughts last?

Most importantly, if this is a frequent thing, it is ok to acknowledge that and seek professional help, if you can. If you want to be free of these thoughts and urges then it is not a failure of faith to be honest and acknowledge that and seek medical advice- it could very well be a means of healing that God wishes you to pursue.

I hope that helps a little; I know from my own experience how dizzying and confusing these thoughts can be, I often found talking about them with someone I trusted helped stop them getting too large in my imagination. Be assured I shall keep you very closely in my prayers!

There are various levels of feeling suicidal. There is quality of deep darkness to the more advanced stages. If you recognize that you're heading in that direction, or even if whatever you have just persists, you definitely need to start leaning on other people for help. However, if you are even thinking about it more than in passing, IMO it means you should be seeing help.

Memorizing (and believing) positive Scriptures can help a lot sometimes. Look for the promises of God in Scripture, especially for those who hold on until the end. (If you search online, you will find people have already compiled lists of such promises) Also, I have found it priceless to also take note of the promises of God that apply to this life as well as the life to come. You can also expect God to deliver you from it completely if you just stick with him and his will for you.

I have had those thoughts before especially since my failed back surgery in 2010 which landed me in a wheelchair in always pain and the pain wears you down and being 64 years old and havent been able to work since then. I guess I am amazed at the number of young people who struggle with these thoughts though. Anyway, I cant control the thoughts that pop into my mind but I can control what happens to them once they arrive there. Something I purposely trained myself to do is when a thought pops in my mind that I know is against God I simply kick it out of my mind and replace it with positive thoughts, some scripture or I just praise the Lord a little, its not really such a big deal. When I first started the scripture below is what I trained to come to mind, especially the last part....(bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ)
Now if this ole woman can do it you can do it. Quit making excuses or you will only give place to the devil. The more you study the Word, the more you fill your mind and heart with Gods Word and the quicker you will catch on when something is working against the will of God. Gods Word is your sword so learn how to use it. Instead of living a gloom and doom life you should be living a life of peace and joy. God knows our struggles but He has given us everything we need to live a victorious life even if everything around us is falling apart. Our peace and joy comes from within not external things. No more excuses, get busy studying scripture and using them. God bless.

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Proverbs 1:7 "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Well you not going to do it because greater is He that is in you than the enemy that is in the world.

Think lovely and noble thoughts and rebuke such nasty thoughts as coming from Satan.

Some combat scriptures are useful but I like the song 'Because He lives, I can face tomorrow'

Its this one

Scripture for you

Philippians 4:8King James Version (KJV)
8 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.

The apostle despaired of life at times.


2 Corinthians 1:8

The only 'sin' in contemplating suicide is the lack of confidence in believing God will keep you going. But it's the same 'sin' in worrying about paying bills or if the car will break or if the kids (or other loved ones) will make good or accept God.

May I suggest you have a medical checkup by a regular doctor to see if you have either a nutritional or chemical imbalance which contributes to the 'dark' thoughts? Frankly, a chemical imbalance or nutritional defect is not much different than a broken arm. Yes, God 'can' heal both types of problems by His direct action and Grace, but He seems to work through doctors, too.

I also suggest you begin every day - perhaps every hour - with a prayer of thanksgiving to God for what you have - even if it doesn't seem like much or near enough - request for guidance AND admission of your need for His influence in your life.

In secular life, we are constantly told to pull our own weight, buck up, be a man and so forth. In secular life and work, there are reasons for such ideas. However, in Christianity, God promises He will assist us with problems.

Which is not to say God is merely a large scale version of a genie in a bottle to attend all our wants and fix all our problems instantly.

Satans mission is to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus came to give us life, and life in abundance. So focus on Jesus. You can say 'get behind me, satan' if hes bothering you with demonic thoughts. Dont let the devil get a foothold.

Realsie that sometimes satan sets out to attack christians in the same manner as Job was and he nearly contemplated ending it all as well. But he declared 'my redeemer lives' and so it is with us as christians...Jesus lives.

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Cor. 7:10 (Let's pray to ensure that we're suffering for the right reasons).
http://biblereasons.com/pain/

eternalspring7 said:

I'm not quite sure what the Bible says about this, but I have occasionally felt suicidal at various points in my life - even as recently as last night. I fear that allowing such feelings to creep into my consciousness is unChristian and sinful, since contemplating suicide implies that my faith in God is wavering.

I assume that actually taking one's own life effectively dims any hope of making Heaven (I don't know for sure), but is it sinful in itself to even contemplate such action?

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If we have a bull with horns about to run into us is it sinful to feel afraid or to want to run? Not at all we are in a situation that demands fear. Often suicidal thoughts come as a result of bulls in our lives, situations that are trying to run us down. At these times we feel nothing but hopelessness. However God is a expert bull fighter, he can get the things out of our lives that make us afraid.

I have had situations in my past that made me feel suicidal but it was by hanging onto God's promises that he had a good future for me that I was able to overcome. All my fears are long gone, God has given me all the things the bulls told me I could never have in life.

God is with you, He has promised to never leave nor forsake you. Job went through a time of suffering but at the end God blessed him. Hang on hard and you will have blessing in the end. Even if you fail or sin God is your father and loves you dearly.

eternalspring7 said:

I'm not quite sure what the Bible says about this, but I have occasionally felt suicidal at various points in my life - even as recently as last night. I fear that allowing such feelings to creep into my consciousness is unChristian and sinful, since contemplating suicide implies that my faith in God is wavering.

I assume that actually taking one's own life effectively dims any hope of making Heaven (I don't know for sure), but is it sinful in itself to even contemplate such action?

Click to expand...

No

Job 7:15 So that my soul chooseth strangling,and death rather than my life.

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eternalspring7 said:

I'm not quite sure what the Bible says about this, but I have occasionally felt suicidal at various points in my life - even as recently as last night. I fear that allowing such feelings to creep into my consciousness is unChristian and sinful, since contemplating suicide implies that my faith in God is wavering.

I assume that actually taking one's own life effectively dims any hope of making Heaven (I don't know for sure), but is it sinful in itself to even contemplate such action?

Click to expand...

Perhaps it is sinful to contemplate suicide, but it is better to seek help--not just here, an actual person you can see & touch, IMMEDIATELY! (I apologize for not taking this more seriously when you first wrote this--please forgive me--I know better now).

People may believe that by faith, they can handle suicidal thoughts alone. That belief could easily be fatal if the feelings of hopelessness suddenly overwhelm you. These dark thoughts are likely to get much worse over time if not attended to immediately.

If you or someone you know is suicidal, do NOT leave him or her alone. Seek immediate assistance, wherever you can find it (emergency room, psychiatrist--) people who deal with suicide on a daily basis are ideal).

Pray without ceasing, but don't be afraid to seek psychiatric care. CHOOSE LIFE!

I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live!!! Deuteronomy 30:19