A: I have a number of Bible verses below that you can share, but before those, I would like to mention a few other things to help those who are struggling with “suicidal thoughts.” The most important one is that the “best” help for any person who is struggling this problem is to “totally” surrender their life to Jesus Christ, and place their faith in Him. Once this life-changing decision has been made, a person will better understand and trust the promises God has made to His children in the Bible. If the one you are sharing the Bible verses with has never made this decision, I would urge you to send them to the “Jesus Died For You” link on this site, where they can take this first step.

     Related to this, I would also like to be a little transparent here, and share two small testimonies from my life, which perhaps might be helpful to those in this struggle. I can say that I have faced the torment of depression and suicidal thoughts a number of times in my life. However, once I made the decision to surrender my life to Jesus Christ on Oct 27, 1994, that torment was greatly reduced (my testimony here). This doesn’t mean that I have not struggled since that day, but my life is different now. I have a peace and joy that I had never had before. I have a power living inside of me to help that I had never had before. I have a trust and understanding of God’s Word, and His promises that I had never had before. And, since that day in 1994, while I have still gone through valleys of depression and suicidal thoughts at times, when I have come out of the valley, I am often stronger, and closer to the Lord.

     Let me share a recent “valley” experience with you. As I write this (July 2023), I am about 5 months removed from going through the worst pain that I have ever endured in my life. I was in and out of the hospital for about a month, trying to get relief from the pain. At one point, the continuing agonizing pain was so bad, I just wanted to die. I cried out to the Lord something along the lines of, “Lord, I know that pain and trials can help us to draw closer to you, and lean on you, but I honestly believe I am at a point now where I will not draw any closer to you by receiving any more pain. I CANNOT TAKE THIS AGONY ANY MORE, and if you are not going to take it from me, please take my life!

     It was not long after this that a number miracles happened. In short (there were a lot of miracles), the pain began to subside, and God sent some doctors into my life who got me the surgery I needed to fix the rest of the problems. I was healed!

     Depending on your definition of “suicidal thoughts,” asking God to “take one’s life,” might not be considered as having ‘suicidal thoughts.” However, the reason I shared the above is not to debate that, but instead, to simply to give HOPE to those who are struggling with “suicidal thoughts” or “depression.”

     In the months that have followed God’s miracles on my behalf, things have changed in my life! I have felt an increase in power and anointing. I have more boldness. As I have returned to my studies and writing, I have been writing with a new vigor. During this time, I have written what “I” believe are two of my most powerful studies, and as I have taught these to my Bible study groups, I have been told by people how much they have been blessed. In addition, the number of people wanting to join the studies has grown significantly! At one point, I felt like God said to me, “I am doing something new!”

     SO… whatever trials you are going through, HANG ON! DON’T GIVE UP! Things DO get better! I have seen it happen OVER AN OVER.

     I “love” this quote from the great English preacher Charles Spurgeon (who at times shared his own struggles with depression), “Before any great achievement, some measure of depression is very usual.”

     Some of the mightiest men in the Bible had times that they wanted to die, including: Moses (Num 11:11-15), Elijah (1 Kin 19:1-4), Job (Job 3:11,20-22), and Jeremiah (Jer 20:14-18). However, they persevered through their trials, and God used each of them in a mighty way, and blessed them.

     Finally, all who are struggling with suicidal thoughts should be “very strongly” encouraged to seek help from others. Isolation and loneliness are two of the main causes of suicidal thoughts and depression. If you are sharing Bible verses with someone, you should also make sure that person is aware that you are available to listen if they want to talk. However, if not you, then encourage them to talk to a pastor, or teacher, or counselor, or loved one. Make SURE that they know they are not alone! That there are people who care about them, and love them, and want to help.

     For those in the United States, they can call 988, 24 hours a day. For those outside of the U.S., they can place “suicide prevention hotline numbers” in a search engine, and websites will come up with hotline numbers for virtually every place in the world that people can call for help.

     Now, let’s look at some Bible verses that can be shared with those who are considering suicide.

(Eccl 7:17)(NKJV) “Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?”

(1 Cor 6:19-20) says your body belongs to God, and He paid a price for it.

(Rom 8:28)(NLT) “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Also see: Jer 29:11)

(Mt 10:29-31)(Lk 12:6-7) say that God has the very hairs of your head numbered, and that your life is valuable.

(Phil 4:6-7)(NKJV) “Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and minds through Christ Jesus.

(Phil 4:13)(NKJV) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

(Phil 4:19) “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

***Note: Going back to our opening paragraph, notice that the 4 verses above in Philippians tell us we receive them “through Jesus.”

(Jn 10:10) says that Jesus came to give you abundant life.

(Mt 19:19)(NJKV) “You shall love your neighbor as YOURSELF.” (Love yourself!)

(Ps 55:22)(NLT) “Give your burdens to the LORD, and He will take care of you.”

(Mt 11:29-30) Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

(Ex 20:13) The sixth commandment says it is a sin to murder, and this includes murdering yourself.

(1 Cor 12:9) Jesus said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
(Note: I would refer you to this link on Paul’s Trials, to see what He suffered through, and endured.)

(Ps 34:18)(NASB) “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

(Gal 6:9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

(James 1:2-4)(NASB) “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials. (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (4) And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

(Ps 27:10) When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

(Mt 5:4) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

(Isa 41:13) For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

(Jn 14:18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

(Jn 16:33) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

(Ps 46:1) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

(James 4:8)(NKJV) “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

(1 Pet 5:7) says that God cares for you, so cast all of your cares upon Him.

(2 Cor 4:16-18) “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (17) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

     In closing, all who are facing this struggle should be reminded that their enemy, and the one who is attacking them is Satan, and His demonic forces (Eph 6:11-12)(1 Pet 5:8)(Job 2:7)(Rev 12:9)(Lk 22:31). BUT, there is victory through Jesus (Lk 10:17-18)(Rom 16:20)(Heb 2:14)(Col 2:15), and the Word of God (Eph 6:17)(Heb 4:12)(1 Jn 2:14). They should pray in Jesus’ name, and remember the verses above (there are many others too). Perhaps encourage them to write down the verses on post-it notes, and place them around their house, and in places like their car, their work space, their lunch box, etc… God’s Word is our weapon, strength, and encouragement. It should be used it in our fight against Satan, just as Jesus used it, saying “it is written” (Mt 4:1-11)(Lk 4:1-13).

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