A couple of days ago, social media was filled with condolence messages for a pastor’s family. This young pastor had taken his own life, after years of advocating about mental health and sharing publicly about his struggles with suicidal thoughts. It was so sad to see life taken away from someone that young. And he isn’t the first within the body of Christ.
This life is so ironic; days prior to him committing suicide, someone in the Christian community; a well-known songwriter and producer, died in a tragic motor accident, leaving behind his wife and kids. He wrote hit songs for artists like Beyoncé and Michael Jackson, and what made him more admirable, was his love for God, and he was not ashamed to show it wherever he went.
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So in one part of the country, one person who wanted to live, got his life taken away abruptly, and in another region, someone who had a chance at life decided to end it for themselves. This is not in any way to belittle mental health struggles that people face, and this article is not about the pastor, but about believers, receiving the power God has made available to them, through his word, so they can be able to overcome whatever life throws their way. Remember this—you are more than a conqueror.
Dear Christian, struggling with suicidal thoughts, do you not know that your weapons of warfare are not carnal?
I work as a resident writer for a writing agency; part of my job includes interviewing clients, especially the ones who want a biography or a memoir written. Now the most challenging part of my job is transcription! Imagine sitting with a client for three hours; you record the entire conversation, then you have to go back and listen to it, write down everything that was said, just the way it was, before you begin expounding on your written material, and restructuring the book.
This is a tedious process, and one I don’t enjoy doing. Transcribing a three-hour interview can take you six hours, because of all the pausing, and going back to make sure you heard right. And if your client is a fast talker, then forget it! (you die there, haha). Imagine my relief when I discovered software that could do the transcribing for me. That took away a lot of the weight of the job I carried. No more fretting before having to transcribe, no more whining, and no more long-hours spent on one task. It is not that this software hasn’t been available, I just discovered it, and now I enjoy so much relief.
Now the word of God is packed with truth! But a lot of us suffer out of ignorance because we seemingly do not know or care to understand what has been made available to us. Just as I experienced trying to transcribe work for hours before discovering various software that could help me do so, it is the same way some Christians suffer under the attack of the enemy, and what does that do? It steals our time.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 says— “for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Once you discover that you already have the victory through Christ, then you can overcome! You don’t have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulder alone. Jesus said, come to me, all you who labor and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
The Purpose of The Enemy
“The thief doesn’t come except to steal, kill and destroy. But I have come so you might have life, and have it more abundantly.” -Jesus
From this passage we can see Satan’s purpose, he just wants to destroy you. Where he starts attacking people in the first place, is the mind. Because he knows that if he can defeat you there, then he has you! But there is good news in Christ—“in this world, you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, for I have already overcome the world.” (John 16:33) It is now left to us, to position ourselves from a place of victory and win the battle, which has already been won for us through the blood of Christ.
“they overcame them by the blood of the lamb and the words of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11)
Dear believer this is not the time, to be sleeping on the word of God, if you sleep, the enemy will come and sow tares among your wheat (Matthew 13:25). The bible also says that the enemy goes around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter5:8). You have to know who you are in Christ; you have to study the word of God for yourself, so you know what is available to you. You cannot allow the enemy rob you of a life God died for you to have.
What is the weight that you carry? Christ already died to bring you victory in that area, so why kill yourself over it? This life can be difficult, people go through tumultuous things, trust me I’ve been there, but the only way you can truly overcome, is by resting in the finished work of Christ—“Now thanks be unto God, who always causes us to be triumphant in Christ Jesus.”
I know a lot of people might say, you don’t understand the depths people suffer from mental health, I know some believers might even say, leave God out of this, this is a medical condition. But I doubt that there is any circumstance, where God says, that he wants to be left out of, except it’s a situation, you stubbornly put yourself in, to begin with; still, his grace is sufficient for us.
Please, dear people; suicide is not a solution to whatever problem you might be facing, Jesus is. Do not hesitate to share your issues with believers, who will stand with you in prayer and also be of real help. Don’t give in to the enemy and end your life, because that is what he wants, and he knows that God has placed something unique in you; if he can’t take your life himself, he causes you to do so, by first breaking you down mentally.
We must be awake to the tactics of the enemy; the greater one resides on the inside of us. Fight for your life! There is so much more you can offer to this world. As for those who want to know where people who commit suicide go, after death, that will be a conversation for another day, as God gives me the wisdom to share.
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About The Author: Evi Idoghor is a Christian, writer, and content creator on Letstalknationblog.com. She is a chemical engineering graduate from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Consumed by her love for writing and desire to effect change, she launched her online platform––Let’s Talk Nation––to tap into her creativity and start meaningful conversations that would make a difference around the world.
Most of her writing has been influenced by her time spent in America, where she lived for about 11 years. Also, she lived in Nigeria and South Korea and currently loves traveling the world while learning about other fascinating cultures. You can find her on all social media platforms with @eviidoghor.