Suicide and is Prevention

Many Causes but God’s Answer!

Richard Hollerman

Issues Involved

We know that more and more people choose to take their own life. This is true of America and it is true of the rest of the world.  Here are a few figures for the United States:

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US for all ages. (CDC)

Every day, approximately 123 Americans die by suicide. (CDC)

There is one death by suicide in the US every 12 minutes. (CDC)

Depression affects 20-25% of Americans ages 18+ in a given year. (CDC)

Suicide takes the lives of over 44,965 Americans every year. (CDC)

The highest suicide rates in the US are among Whites, American Indians and Alaska Natives. (https://save.org/about-suicide/suicide-facts/)

Here are a few more statistics. This should give us an idea of how widespread this problem is:

  • In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is now among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 (male and female). Suicide attempts are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicides.
  • Although suicide rates have traditionally been highest amongst elderly males, rates among young people have been increasing to such an extent that they are now the group at highest risk in a third of all countries.
  • Mental health disorders (particularly depression and substance abuse) are associated with more than 90% of all cases of suicide.
  • However, suicide results from many complex sociocultural factors and is more likely to occur during periods of socioeconomic, family and individual crisis (e.g. loss of a loved one, unemployment, sexual orientation, difficulties with developing one’s identity, disassociation from one’s community or other social/belief group, and honour).

The WHO also states that:

  • In Europe, particularly Eastern Europe, the highest suicide rates are reported for both men and women.
  • The Eastern Mediterranean Region and Central Asia republics have the lowest suicide rates.
  • Nearly 30% of all suicides worldwide occur in India and China.
  • Suicides globally by age are as follows: 55% are aged between 15 to 44 years and 45% are aged 45 years and over.
  • Youth suicide is increasing at the greatest rate.

(https://www.befrienders.org/suicide-statistics)

The rate of suicide for the United States is equally depressing. We find this:

IN 2010 AMERICA’S Department of Health and Human Services set a goal of reducing the country’s suicide rate from 12.1 to 10.2 per 100,000 population by 2020. Instead of falling, however, the rate has climbed. On January 30th the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a federal government agency, reported that more than 48,000 Americans had taken their own lives in 2018, equivalent to 14.2 deaths per 100,000 population. This makes suicide the tenth-biggest cause of death in the United States—deadlier than traffic accidents and homicide. (https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/01/30/americas-suicide-rate-has-increased-for-13-years-in-a-row)

Now that we have a general idea of how widespread this problem is, we must take a closer look at this sin. In all, it is a sad and tragic situation! To think that 48,000 Americans do end their earthly life in this way, we Whether this sin is accomplished with the use of a gun or a car, whether it involves drugs or alcohol, whether the perpetrator jumps off a building or kills himself by a vehicle, we must look at the problem realistically.

Remember this; There are answers! Please don’t give up!

Let’s discuss briefly why people choose to take their own life.

First, some people are overcome with physical issues. It may be terminal cancer, kidney disease, or one of dozens of different physical issues. They somehow feel that they can’t go on for another day or week or longer. Thus, they end their own life. Some of these, perhaps, don’t stop to thoughtfully consider what will happen a moment after they take their life.

Second, there may be financial distress. In the midst of great debt, some people may be overwhelmed with concern and a feeling of futility. This may be complicated by a spouse or others. They see no way out of their distress. They don’t know how to make the payments or how to pay the bills. Each year the debt piles up higher and there seems to be no way out of this dilemma.

Third, some couples are in the midst of so much conflict that they see no way out of the distress. This is not at all what they imagined, what they planned for, or what they wanted. The lack of marital fulfillment becomes so overwhelming that they think they just must “escape” from the animosity or fighting. Instead of the “paradise” they imagined, they are overwhelmed, depressed, and hopeless. They feel that it just can’t get worse and it surely won’t get better.

Fourth, some people look back over their life and think that “all is lost.” They feel that the hopes and dreams that they once enjoyed are no more and there is no way that true fulfillment will come. They may have had plans that seemed to be reasonable but it has all proven to be an empty shell, a matter of futility. Thus they choose to “leave it all behind”—not recognizing that they would only be beginning a far worst situation and one that will last through all eternity!

Fifth, as we all know, some people have a dreadful feeling of rejection. They tried to make life work. They tried to be unified and in union with someone or with a group. But it just didn’t work. They were rejected. They were abandoned. They were ripped apart and perhaps someone betrayed them. And this rejection may not be for a moment or in one aspect of life alone. No, the person may have a dreadful feeling that life and everyone in his or her experience has rejected him and turned away.

Sixth, there are some who have had a job that they thought was dependable and stable. But for some reason, the boss rejects them. Or they are dismissed from the position. Or someone else takes the position, thus leaving the person without work. Or perhaps the job becomes so distressful and sad that the person doesn’t know what to do or where to go. Maybe the fault is entirely on the person—for he or she may have acted irresponsibly. Now that it is gone, it can’t be retrieved. If he loses his job, then the bills mount up and bad goes to worse. This seems futile and there seems no way out.

Seventh, there is also distress with one’s parents—or distress with one’s children. None of this has turned out the way he or she imagined, and there results in conflict with these significant people. We may be rejected by a father or mother. Or there may be the loss of our son or daughter. We may feel abandoned and think that our life is not worth living. Maybe we think that all of our efforts to do positive things are empty and worthless. It just can’t be solved.

Eighth, it may even come to the point of being disillusioned with one’s spiritual fellowship or church. At least, this seemed to be a solid relationship but then we discovered that people would speak against you or people would go astray. We thought that God would have provided some degree of warmth and acceptance, but this turned out to be all wrong.

Ninth, and finally, we may feel abandoned by God. We know that God would surely not reject us if we were true and faithful to Him, but our mind may be so confused and our lives so distressed that we just don’t know how to make a connection with the Lord whom we always thought was near to us. Or we think that we have failed the Lord and now we can’t remedy the situation. The relationship has ended. Thus, we feel totally alone.

Human “Solutions” to This Distress

We have briefly discussed these trials but nothing seems to work. Thus we reach out for some “solution” of some kind. Yet we probably discover that any human solution that we may choose just doesn’t work. There are massive drawbacks and incredible negatives. We may be at the end of ourselves. Besides all of this, even our theology may be upside down and we just don’t know how to solve it.

All of the things that we have mentioned above just don’t solve the basic problems. Yes, if we were to take our life, we would escape the financial difficulties and the health issues. We would get away from the other negatives in our life that might cause us to just end it all. The marital problems, the problems with our parents or children, the job problems, and all of the others would not be solved if we were to try to escape it all by taking our life.

One of the reasons why I would say this is because Scripture strongly warns against any human solution to our problems. For instance, God says through the pen of John the apostle, “You know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15). Obviously, this includes a person who kills another human being. But it also includes one who “murders” or kills himself. If we were to kill ourselves, there is no eternal life abiding in us. In this sense, suicide ends it all from a human and earthly standpoint, but it only begins an eternity without God, without hope, and without peace!

The opposite is the case: Eternal death or spiritual death would be ours! As Scripture says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). As John puts it, “When sin is accomplished, it brings forth death” (James 1:15b). No, death is not a workable solution! If we were to kill ourselves, we would die unrepentant and unable to make amends for our sins. Killing ourselves just puts us into an even worse situation. Why? Because our earthly problems may last for 10 or 20 or 40 years. But unrepentant sin will last forever—eternally! God gives life and He alone is able to terminate life!

We know that some people do survive an attempted suicide. This happens to women than to men. And it depends on the means of suicide. A gun will generally kill a person immediately. Also, hanging will do the same. But drugs may allow a person to live. Thus, a person may come to himself and regain his senses and live a long life after genuine repentance. However, we must not depend on these possibilities. Life must not be gambled and person must not take such a “chance” with his eternity!

God’s Answers

God, our Creator, has many answers to our earthly problems. If He is our Heavenly Father, this is one aspect of the answer. And if he is not our Heavenly Father, we at least can come to Him through Christ and find His answers! Consider a few of these!

First, we have Jesus our Savior who is utterly committed to us and wants to help us. Our Lord gives this reassurance: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Rest, spiritually rest, for the sin-weary person! Jesus continues, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light” (vv. 29-30). Let us find a refuge in Jesus our Lord!

Second, we must not give up. Yes, life can offer us frightful experiences and some of those are ones that we would want to escape, from a human perspective. But we must admit that there definitely are sorrowful situations that we would want to be without. Admitting our sad situation as well as our inability to deal with this is surely a good way to deal with our desire to end it all. God does want us to continue on and He is willing to help with our struggles.

Third, let’s remember that life is brief and eternity is unending. Although our situation may be nearly unbearable and we would like to run from it, let’s remember that it will not last forever. A few short years perhaps and it will be gone. And eternity is forever! On the other hand, if you should take your life, you will have all eternity to regret your decision!

Fourth, remember that God is the one who gives us life. It may be a life of 15 or 20 years or a life of 95 or 100 years, but the Lord is the Author of life.  Beyond this, He alone has the right to terminate that life. Even if we are in severe pain and daily anguish, let’s trust in God to put an end to our grief in His own good time. We have no right to change what He has determined.

Fifth, suicide has been called the “most selfish act possible.” We think that Jay Adams was correct in this. While it seems that this decision would be for our good, are we overlooking other aspects of it? Are you really sure that your father and mother, your husband or wife, your children, and any friends would really want you out of the way? Would it bring them regret and grief?  Are you only thinking of yourself (from a human standpoint), or are you thinking of others? We must not be unselfish in this—at all costs.

Sixth, our focus should be living for God and Christ! As Paul put it, since Jesus died for us, we “who live might no longer live for [ourselves], but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:15). We are not to live for ourselves. We are to live for Jesus our Lord! We have a reason for living, regardless of how miserable our earthly life has become!

Seventh, we are also to live for others. When we seek to bless others by our words and deeds, we will find a reason for living! As the apostle said, “they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:21). Paul said that Timothy did not seek His own interests but those of Christ. And part of Christ’s interests is to bless others. Paul said that he had “the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better” (Philippians 1:23), but he went on to add, “. . . yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake” (v. 24). He was thinking of the needs of others rather than his own desires!

Eighth, instead of focusing on our present problems, fears, grief, pains, physical distress, lack of money or friends or job, or rejections, we are to focus on living for Jesus right now. Jesus declared, “Do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble for its own.” The Lord did not close His eyes to the legitimate trouble we have but He said that we should not “worry” about our earthly future. Yes, pain may come. Sorrow may come. Difficulties may come. Persecution may come. But let us focus on what we can do in living for Christ today and helping and blessing others today. As Jesus said, “Each day has enough trouble for its own.”

As we consider each of these points, we should be able to see the futility, the wrongfulness, and the foolishness of taking our life when things go wrong. Yes, sometimes we do experience terrible calamities and difficult circumstances, but nothing—absolutely nothing—can justify taking our life. Since God gives us life and also a work to do in life, we must never take it on ourselves to throw away this precious gift of God! Gifts are mean to be used and we should thank God for them. This will include your physical life!

Regardless of life’s duration, regardless of the amount of rejection, regardless of the physical or emotional distress, life is worth living! Paul was rejected, stoned, betrayed, and he underwent a massive amount of suffering. Yet he was able to write: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). He did want to leave the sorrows of this life.

But this same apostle realized that he had work to do and this brief life was the only time he could do it. Thus, he could write: “But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake” (1:22-24). Then, he went on to affirm: “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith. . . .”

Even when Paul considered the negatives in his life (see 2 Corinthians 11:22-29), he could see that the only way he could reach the lost and bless the saved was to continue and live and serve! This must be our own attitude. We don’t make decisions because of certain negatives in our present life or circumstances, but we willingly choose to live for Christ and do His will and bless people—the saved and the lost! We must do the same!

Thus, let us go on with faith in the Lord, with trust in His promises, with hope in the future, and with a joy in our service! Please don’t take your own life but labor passionately for the One who created you and the One who redeemed you! Look beyond yourself to Christ Jesus who is worthy of all our devotion and who gives a true, lasting, and genuine joy!