Christians in Despair and Depression, Part 5 (Pilgrim's Progress... #45)

TEXT: Romans 8:37-39

We began this mini-series on how Christians can handle despair and depression by highlighting the number of people -- Christian and non-Christian -- who have sadly taken their lives after a struggle with depression or some kind of mental illness. We would be remiss if we did not tackle the subject of suicide itself as a part of this series. It is a topic that most Christians generally avoid because it is such a sensitive issue -- especially for the family and friends of those who have taken their own lives. Perhaps even sadder are the tragic stories of those who kill others before killing themselves.

As you will recall, when Christian and Hopeful were chained in the dungeon of Giant Despair, Christian suggested that he and his companion take the Giant's advice and end their own lives because, in his words, death would be better than the existence they had at the time. Perhaps, at times, you have felt the same -- that you would rather die than go through whatever it is you are facing. Several characters in the Bible did.

While such feelings are well within the bounds of human experience, we as new men and women in Christ have a greater cause for not giving in to the despair that leads to suicide. We know that whatever we are facing -- be it a spiritual threat, a physical threat, or even death itself -- cannot separate us from the love of God. Paul writes, "We are more than conquerors through him that loved us." We can overcome anything in life through faith in God and in our Lord Jesus Christ.