God’s prophet, Elijah, did everything God had commanded.
He courageously confronted wicked King Ahab and godless queen Jezebel, angering the nation’s corrupt leaders. Surrounded by his enemies, he testified publicly to his faith in God, who sent fire from heaven. He battled to the death against 450 pagan sorcerers known as the prophets of Baal.
“The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran” (1 Kings 18:46). Queen Jezebel had sent word that she would kill Elijah within 24 hours. Although God was on his side, the realities of his circumstances suggested that Elijah was a dead man.
He felt angry and alone. He “prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors’” (1 Kings 19:4).
Elijah has been called the suicide prophet, and for good reason. He wanted his life to end. But how can a prophet of God be thinking about suicide? A similar question is: Is it possible for a person to be a Christian and to consider or commit suicide? Can that person even be a Christian?
First, all Christians still face troubling thoughts and temptations to doubt in God, feel forsaken or guilty, and think that things are hopeless. Those are temptations, and a temptation is not (yet) a sin.
Second, all Christians still do sometimes fall into temptation. We pray heartily in the Lord’s Prayer to overcome temptation, by the gracious strength of God during our time of weakness. It can happen that we give into the temptation and sin against God.
Sinning doesn’t automatically cancel or delete our salvation or our faith in Jesus. The apostle Paul teaches this. “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:19,20).
Paul remained a Christian through these sins. Though temptation caused him to sin, the sin didn’t change his identity as a forgiven child of God living by faith.
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24,25).
Paul is saved and delivered not by his righteousness but rescued by the grace of God. That grace is his salvation, as a believer.
Therefore, if a person is a Christian, their thoughts may tempt them to end their own life. If they sadly, sinfully do so, that sin doesn’t automatically cancel or delete their salvation or their faith in Jesus. Their inheritance of eternal life remains true, as God promises for all those who believe.
The Bible does not describe Elijah as a backslider or unbeliever because of his thoughts about ending his life. Rather, it focuses on God’s response of grace and help.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38,39).
PRAYER: Turn my thoughts to you, O God, when I am tempted to despair, to give up and feel hopeless. Remind me of your faithfulness. Be near and love anyone who has thoughts of suicide, saving them in your mercy for your good plans. Amen.
BE READY: Become familiar with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at this web page or dial 988. You’ll find clear, understandable guidance, inspiration, help and next steps.
