Is it wrong to pray for this?

Ash Crimson said:

Is it wrong to pray for one's self to die? Not for other people that would obviously be wrong, but what about for yourself?

I recall Elijah and Jonah both doing so.

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Jonah was wallowing in self-pity when he saw that he wouldn't get his way. God responded by putting Jonah to shame, causing a plant to grow and provide him shade which would die the next day, and then saying that Jonah cared more for the plant than he did for the city of several thousands of people.

Elijah, in 1 Kings 19, had been given a lot of grief by his own people who refused to listen to reason. In a moment of weakness, he asked God to take his life. Instead, God sent an angel to give him bread and to tell him to keep living. When Elijah didn't get up and move the first time, the angel came back a second time, laying bread by his head and telling him to keep living.

In a moment of weakness, it's okay to tell God how we feel. But there comes a point when we have to stop wallowing in our self-pity and keep moving.

Ash Crimson said:

What if we can't?

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You pray for strength, and you get up and start moving. God will not always provide a loaf of bread when you sit around and do nothing, but His will is for the benefit of His people. Put yourself in situations where God can work. Find people to help you in your walk with Christ, people to share your struggles with, and God may use them. Look for ways to help yourself. If God provides a solution for you, use it.

For instance, if you spend too much time inside, try going for a walk. Getting a little sunlight can improve your mood, as will the physical exercise that comes with it.

At times of distress and deep heart ache one could pray for such a thing.
The Holy Spirit makes "intercession" for us when we don't know how to properly
pray...the Lord responds appropriately to the spirit man.
The physical man is weak and cries out due to the pain/agony/or grief.

I would go further. I would say that if you've come to that point you have a duty to call for help, whether from a Christian who can provide more personal counseling or a psychiatrist. Typically this would be a sign of depression, which is a condition that can be treated, but given your other postings it may be that you need more in-person help from an experienced Christian who you trust.

I've asked God for that on many occasions. Not sure it's a sin, but he won't actually do it.

Laying all your pain and grief on God's mercy seat is what He wants. He already sees our pain. He wants us to come to Him in faith so he can give us rest. By all means tell God you want to die. Committing suicide is a grave sin. But telling the Lord you want to die is.. well actually how I came to know Jesus.

I have been there too.
Many nights I have wished to die in my sleep.

I like the idea of getting help if you can.

Because I know that God wants the quality of our lives to be better then that state of being on a continuous basis.
When your thoughts are there, you can not serve and love as he would wish.

I pray that this desire be replaced with lighter feelings of peace and contentment.

GrayAngel said:

Jonah was wallowing in self-pity when he saw that he wouldn't get his way. God responded by putting Jonah to shame, causing a plant to grow and provide him shade which would die the next day, and then saying that Jonah cared more for the plant than he did for the city of several thousands of people.

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As above and also, I think with Elijah it was more the natural chemical comedown after a major fight and victory. That was mentioned on another thread in here yesterday I think.
(it can be hard to win major, (sometimes even major major) battles and still be faced with the rest of the war, or overwhelming odds.)

I too prayed to die. Many times, I prayed to die.

Then I died.

And the Lord told me that my work was not done, and I needed to go back.

So here I am, writing to you.




If God has work for you, do you really want to leave His plan for someone else when He wants you to do it? You are the one He has chosen to do it. Do you really want to deny God?

Ash Crimson said:

Yeah I get the impression that is what God would say too.

I don't wish to deny God, but I do not know why He choose to give me such a sad task either.

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Yes, He did, and He would to you.

You see my name. I am a prophet. It is not a fun and loving job. Nearly every prophet in the Bible has brought horrible news. Some tried to kill the prophets because of the bad news they gave. Others offered them money if they would prophesy good stuff.

It is a hard job. But someone has to do it.

And why does God give you a sad task? He knows you of all people can do it. And He needs your hands in this mess the devil keeps trying to make of the world!

So go out and give out the gospel! You go guy!

Romans 5: 3b ... we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Romans 8: 17b ... if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Romans 8: 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 1: 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

Philippines 1: 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him...

Philippines 3: 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

2 Timothy 1: 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

2 Timothy 2: 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 2: 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Hebrews 2: 18 Because he [Jesus] himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

1 Peter 2: 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.

1 Peter 4: 1b whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.

1 Peter 4: 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”[a] 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

I Peter 5: 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

All these scriptures point to suffering.

I cannot tell you why you are suffering. I do not know what kind of suffering you are doing. Is this brought on by your relationship with Christ? Or is this brought on by your willfulness moving away from what Christ wants? I do not know and therefore cannot say.

If any of these scriptures speak to you, turn to the Word of God and read the entire chapter. Read it again. And again, until you get it for your life.

God bless you.

Holy, Heavenly Father, Jesus, Spirit of the Living God, I thank You that You are the beginning and the end. I praise You because You are the Light of the World. Please help this man so that he begins to understand why he is suffering. Give him wisdom as You promise in James 1. Thank you Lord of my Life. In Jesus name. Amen.

He is faithful to answer.

Read these scriptures. Turn to those that seem to speak to you (or all if none in particular does). Read and read and read them. The Lord will reveal to you what it is.

But if you do not read them, I can only say you have chosen to push the Word away. If you do, there will never be an answer.

God bless you.

Ash Crimson said:

Is it wrong to pray for one's self to die?
Not for other people that would obviously be wrong

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Well GOD/Jesus said: "I Came to bring *you* (Ash Crimson) LIFE & this more Abundant..."

since as Christians we claim to be walking in Jesus' footsteps,
then beyond us living this Abundant life, we are teaching...
others HOW to also live an Abundant...life.

When you life Abundantly, you are filled with Gods' Joy...

There's no desire whatsoever for anything else, only more of the same

Ash Crimson said:

Is it wrong to pray for one's self to die? Not for other people that would obviously be wrong, but what about for yourself?

I recall Elijah and Jonah both doing so.

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I am concerned about you. Are you okay? I have prayed for God to kill me, and it ended up being an illness. Maybe the situation is not the same for you, or maybe it is. However I still ask are you okay? Is there anything I can do to help you?

I used to pray to die every night, I would sob and beg, and I would make deals with God, that if He were to strike me down, I would even be willing to go to Hell.

God didn't, so I decided that if God wasn't going to, I would play him and end it myself. Three times in my life have I begged and prayed to God to kill me, three time I have attempted suicide. Most of the time, I was too numb to even pray to God for death or to try anything...

First time, I took some poison and ended up just throwing up like crazy, second time, I took pills and somehow survived, and third time, I tried to overdose again, and as I got the cap off, an old friend contacted me.

Guess what God was saying? No, it's not time to die.

You will die when it is your time.

Ash, I feel as though you need some help and you come off as lost, don't ask me how, but that's just how I interpret it, see a doctor or a psychiatrist. Speak with your pastor, even. It saddens God to hear His children pray to Him, asking Him for death, He does not want that, He wants His children to live. You're never beyond help.