Or it may be that you have an irrational desire to "end it all" because of failure in reaching your goals or chronic self-destructive behaviour such as alcoholism. It may also be that you have experienced a number of disturbing life events.
If you are a Christian, your hope and strength to carry on are in the Lord (Psalms 42:11). The heavens may seem as brass, and your prayers—even when accompanied by tears—may seem useless. But with faith in God, you can have deliverance, healing and hope.
What Scripture Says
"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.... The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them" (Psalm 34:1,7)."He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.... For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.... I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation" (Psalm 91:1; 11-12; 15-16).
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
Taking Positive Steps
If you have had thoughts of suicide, it is important that you realize your perception of the situation may be unrealistic. Be assured that your problems are temporary and solvable. Evaluate your situation seriously. The effects of suicide on your surviving children, relatives and friends are devastating. You are so important and so loved by God that He has provided counsellors and min-isters who are anointed by the Holy Spirit to help you. Please contact the Crossroads Ministry Centre nearest you for help or referral to someone who can help you.Problems are easier to deal with individually. It is like the story of the parrot who could say only one phrase. As he was being stung by a nest full of hornets, he spoke the only words he knew: "One at a time, please." That is how you can handle your problems—one at a time.
You can have new life in Christ (John 3:3-8,16). No matter how bad your sins, God loves you so much that He sent Jesus just so you can be saved from the consequences of life without Him.
God said that your every need will be supplied once you fully surrender your life to Him (Matthew 6:25-34). When you receive Jesus into your life, you become an "authorized child" of God (John 1:12).
Power and Help Available
Everyone wants to live a life filled with purpose and happiness. If you are already a born-again Christian, then you need the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He gives the dynamic ability to have an abundant life, no matter what your circumstances (John 10:10; 14:12-17; 16:13-15; Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit will work within you to produce a new nature with the character traits of love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, meekness, faithfulness, patience and self-control (Gal. 5:22,23). With the Holy Spirit producing these qualities in your life and God's armour equipping you (Eph. 6:10-18), you will be able to overcome.If physical or emotional problems are causing you to think of suicide, talk to your doctor. All healing is done by God, whether it be an instantaneous miracle or through the vehicle of medicine. Please contact the Crossroads Ministry Centre nearest you for prayer and further ministry (1 Cor. 12:8-10).
Have you ever participated in occult activities such as fortune-telling, black or white magic, horoscope reading, numerology, witchcraft, seances, so-called "spiritual" readings and/or participated in occult games such as the Ouija Board, Dungeons and Dragons, etc.? If so, it is important that you repent and ask God's forgiveness for any involvement, even though it was done innocently while seeking meaning for your life. The Bible makes it clear that the occult is from Satan and is an abomination to God (Deuteronomy 18:10-13).
God has established His Church. He staffs it with people who are gifted by the Holy Spirit to help you grow, prosper, overcome life's difficulties and Satan's wiles, and minister to your needs in all circumstances (Ephesians 4:7-11). Look for a strong, Holy Spirit-led church near you and become involved in it for your spiritual growth and other needs. The Crossroads Ministry Centre nearest you can also refer you to a vibrant, Bible-teaching church.
As You Pray
Praise and thank God for His love and concern for you. Even though Satan may be trying to destroy you, God will send angels to minister to you (Hebrews 1:7,14). As you minister praise to Him in honour and respect, He will show honour and respect to you (1 Samuel 2:30b). Surrender all your burdens to Him and thank Him for working all the circumstances in your life for your good (Romans 8:28).Suggested Reading
Read Happiness Is A Choice by Frank B. Minirth and Paul D. Meier, Search For Significance and Search For Freedom by Robert S. McGee, and Victory Over The Darkness by Neil T. Anderson.Psalms 40;42;43 Hope
Psalm 51 David's prayer for God's mercy
Romans 8:1-13; Isaiah 1:18; and Ephesians 2:8,9 Assurance of grace
Philippians 4:6-8 Renew one's mind
Galatians 5:22,23 Fruit of the Spirit
Psalm 73 Deliverance - confession and faith
Philippians 4:19 God will supply
Matthew 6:25-33 Seek God first - needs provided
Hebrews 7:25 Assurance of salvation
Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, seek, knock to receive
John 14 The Holy Spirit promised
John 15 Source of a fruitful life
John 16:7-15 Working of the Holy Spirit
Acquire a daily devotional Bible reading guide and follow it during a "quiet time" when you pray each day. Also, begin reading daily at least one chapter of Psalms and one chapter of Proverbs for guidance, aid in worship, and wisdom. To read the entire Bible, begin with the Gospel according to John in the New Testament. Then starting at the first book of the Old and New Testaments, read one chapter of each, continuing until you complete the Bible. Crossroads is happy to help. In fact, that's the whole reason we exist as a ministry. The daily 100 Huntley Street telecast and the 24-hour-a-day Telephone Ministry line are here for the same reason. You may want to call us as you are reading this: 1-866-273-4444
God loves you and we love you! Please give us the privilege of doing our best to help more. For further ministry, you may contact the Crossroads Ministry Centre by writing to:
Crossroads Christian Communications Inc.
Attn: National Ministry Centre
PO Box 5100
Burlington, Ontario L7R 4M2
