Directing a Suicidal Friend to God's Love and Hope
The biblical narrative frequently portrays individuals in states of profound distress, even to the point of desiring death, yet it consistently points to God's capacity to offer deliverance and hope. For instance, the Psalms often articulate deep suffering and pleas for divine intervention, as seen in Psalm 57:3, "He will send from heaven, and save me, he rebukes the one who is pursuing me. Selah. God will send out his loving kindness and his truth" [3]. Similarly, Psalm 10:14 notes God's attentiveness to those in trouble: "But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless" [4]. These passages suggest that God is aware of and responsive to human suffering.
The concept of God's "loving devotion" or hesed is a recurring theme, particularly in the Psalms, offering a foundation for hope even in dire circumstances. Psalm 6:4 implores, "Turn, O LORD, and deliver my soul; save me because of Your loving devotion" [5]. This emphasizes that God's character is inherently compassionate and inclined toward salvation. Even when facing overwhelming despair, the psalmist expresses trust in God's ultimate justice and care, stating, "But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction... but I will trust in you" [6]. This trust is not a denial of suffering but an affirmation of God's steadfastness amidst it.
The New Testament further develops the theme of God's love and the hope found in Christ. Ephesians 2:13 highlights that reconciliation with God is possible "only by being united with Christ Jesus through trust in him," and this reconciliation is made possible by "the blood of Christ—his sacrificial death" [7]. This underscores the profound extent of God's love, demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice, which offers a path to peace and renewed relationship with God. Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23 for believers to grasp "the full significance of God’s gifts" and for their faith to be expressed through love, further illustrates the transformative power of understanding God's love [11]. Matthew Henry, commenting on 1 John 4:17, describes God as the "primum amabile - the first and chief of all amiable beings and objects," possessing all beauty and excellence, and conferring goodness on others [12]. This perspective encourages focusing on God as the ultimate source of love and worth.
In moments of extreme distress, such as suicidal ideation, the biblical witness consistently points to God as a source of help and transformation. The psalmist, even when wounded, confesses faith in God's "ability to transform his misery and weakness into abundant life" [13]. This suggests that God can bring about profound change and renewal, even from the depths of despair. The narrative of the demon-possessed boy in Mark 9:22, where the father pleads, "But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us," illustrates a desperate cry for help met with divine power [1]. Similarly, Jairus's plea for his dying daughter in Mark 5:23, "Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live," demonstrates a belief in Christ's ability to intervene in life-threatening situations [2].
While the Bible emphasizes God's love and hope, it also acknowledges the seriousness of life and death. Adam Clarke, commenting on Luke 12:5, notes that even "the friends of God are commanded to fear God, as a being who has authority to send both body and soul into hell" [10]. This perspective highlights the gravity of one's choices and the eternal implications, suggesting that life is a precious gift to be stewarded. However, for believers, death is not an end but a transition into God's presence. Philippians 1:23 expresses Paul's longing "to go and be with Christ," indicating that "death leads believers immediately into the Lord’s presence" [8, 9]. This offers a hopeful perspective on the afterlife for those who trust in Christ.
Sources
- Mark “Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” -- Mark 9:22”
- Mark “and begged him much, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live.” -- Mark 5:23”
- Psalms “He will send from heaven, and save me, he rebukes the one who is pursuing me. Selah. God will send out his loving kindness and his truth. -- Psalms 57:3”
- Psalms “But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless. -- Psalms 10:14”
- Psalms “Psalms 6:4 (BSB) — Turn, O LORD, and deliver my soul; save me because of Your loving devotion.”
- Psalms “But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you. -- Psalms 55:23”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:13: 2:13 Only by being united with Christ Jesus through trust in him can a person be reconciled to God (see Rom 5:10-12; 2 Cor 5:18-21). The blood of Christ—his sacrificial death—makes this possible (see Eph 1:7; Rom 3:24-25; 5:9; Col 1:20; cp. Heb 9:12-15; 1 Pet 1:19; 1 Jn 1:7; Rev 1:5; 5:9).”
- Philippians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Philippians 1:23: 1:23 I long to go and be with Christ: Death leads believers immediately into the Lord’s presence (cp. 3:20-21; 1 Cor 15:20-23, 51-52; 2 Cor 5:1-8; 1 Thes 4:13-17).”
- Phil (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Phil 1:23: 1:23 I long to go and be with Christ: Death leads believers immediately into the Lord’s presence (cp. 3:20-21; 1 Cor 15:20-23, 51-52; 2 Cor 5:1-8; 1 Thes 4:13-17).”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 12:5: Fear him - Even the friends of God are commanded to fear God, as a being who has authority to send both body and soul into hell. Therefore it is proper even for the most holy persons to maintain a fear of God, as the punisher of all unrighteousness. A man has but one life to lose, and one soul to save; and it is madness to sacrifice the salvation of the soul to the preservation of the life.”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 1:15: 1:15-23 Paul prays that his readers may have the spiritual understanding to grasp the full significance of God’s gifts (1:3-14). 1:15 Paul links faith in Christ with love for God’s people. Personal faith in Christ brings salvation, and salvation is expressed, above all, by a life of love (see Gal 5:6; Col 1:4; 1 Thes 1:3; 3:6; 5:8; 2 Thes 1:3; 1 Tim 1:14; 2:15; Titus 2:2).”
- 1 John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 John 4:17: The apostle, having thus excited and enforced sacred love from the great pattern and motive of it, the love that is and dwells in God himself, proceeds to recommend it further by other considerations; and he recommends it in both the branches of it, both as love to God, and love to our brother or Christian neighbour. I. As love to God, to the primum amabile - the first and chief of all amiable beings and objects, who has the confluence of all beauty, excellence, and loveliness, in himself, and confers on all other beings whatever renders them good and amiable. Lov”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 71:19: 71:19-21 God’s righteous character provides encouragement and strength in the midst of suffering. The wounded psalmist confesses faith in God’s ability to transform his misery and weakness into abundant life.”