Please don't take your life!

This is a repost in light of the suicide of Robin Williams.

 

From the Reformed Reader Blog

Several weeks ago, Steve and Robyn Bloem were gracious enough to send me a copy of their book, Broken Minds: Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're "Losing It" (Kregel Publications, 2005). Shane has drawn attention to this book before.
http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Minds-Healing-Youre-Losing/dp/0825421187/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382740705&sr=1-1&keywords=steve+bloem

I've been working my way through this book and was really struck by a list of reasons Steve gave to himself to convince himself not to commit suicide. This is a dark and difficult subject and is often not blogged about in polite company, but I was struck by how thoughtful and gripping this list was. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, perhaps this list might serve as a place to start when thinking of reasons to choose life:

• It is a sin and would bring shame to Christ and His church.

• It would please the Devil and would weaken greatly those who are trying to fight him.

• It would devastate family members and friends, and you may be responsible for them following your example if they come up against intense suffering.

• It may not work, and you could end up severely disabled but still trying to fight depression.

• It is true - our God is a refuge, "and those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you" (Ps. 9:10). God, your Father, will deliver you through what you are facing. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:10 that God "delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us."

• Help is available. If you push hard enough, someone can assist you to find the help you need.

• If you are unsaved, you will go to hell. This is not because of the act of suicide but because all who die apart from knowing Christ personally will face an eternity in a far worse situation than depression.

• If you are a Christian, then Jesus Christ is interceding for you before the Father, that your faith will not fail. He shares your afflictions. Psalm 56:8 says, "Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in your book?"

• God will keep you until you reach a day when your pain will truly be over. Wait for God's time for that, not your own. According to Revelation 7:17c, "God will wipe every tear from their eyes." After going through some awful things, Paul was still able to say, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Rom. 8:18).

Pgs. 59-60.

May God be pleased to strengthen his dear ones who are at the edge of despair and fighting the temptation to take that short-cut through suffering instead of waiting on God's timing (something easier said than done, and indeed, impossible to do in one's own strength). May his Holy Spirit indeed comfort them with that peace that passes understanding (Phil 4:7).

_______________________
R. Andrew Compton
Christ Reformed Church (URCNA)
Anaheim, CA The End
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If you would like to buy our book, Broken Minds Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're Losing It, we are offering a signed copy  for $10.00 + $3.00 shipping. If you bought ten copies the shipping would be about $6.00. The total for one copy from us would be $10.00 a copy +  shipping and you don't pay the tax.. This is a good time. to buy it and give to a friend or read it yourself.  I guarantee that if you read it prayerfully God will in some way bless you. You can read it with your Bible open.  It is one of the first books where Christian authors, one,depressed and two, the Caregiver talk about how depression  hit their family and how  the grace of God comforted and healed them in a mighty way.
You can order it in two ways. 1. Go to heartfeltmin.org . Just follow the prompts and put the amount  of money per copy you order. We will get your shipping  information off the Pay Pal.  2. You can send us a check for the amount using as a guide the top of this page. If your mailing address is not on the check, please fill out our Contact us form with the information. You can send the check.  Our address is Heartfelt Counseling Ministries, 4371 North Lake Drive, Suite 256, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
SB
If you are a teacher and want to buy books from us we can give you discount rates.  Broken Minds has an academic status at Kregel Publications.You can also email me at pathema@msn.com

Reformed Reader | October 25, 2013 at 9:40 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/p6Yga-3gU