Defeating Depression And Suicidal Thoughts - Part 02 - Practical Ways To Overcome Depression

So last week we began this short series on Defeating Depression and Suicidal Thoughts. We talked a lot about how prevalent depression is and how the pandemic has made that even worse. So many people just feel like giving up. Knowing the time we live in, and knowing it will only increase and get worse can make us lose all hope if we are not careful to guard our hearts.

Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. – Prov. 4:23

Last week we talked about Elijah’s depression. This week we’re going to talk about a few more people in the Bible who showed signs of depression and even suicide.

King Saul committed suicide. His suicide was situational and done out of fear of abuse by the enemy. Understandable.

1 Sam 31:1-4

1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. 3 The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers [a]hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers.

4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and [b]abuse me.”

But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.

Judas committed suicide. Judas’ suicide was situational and done out of regret for what he had done to Jesus.

Matthew 27:3-5

3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”

And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”

5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

And there were others – Abimelech (Judges 9:50-54), Samson (Judges 16:23-31), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23) and Zimri (1 Kings 16:15-20). So those plus King Saul and Judas make six people in the Bible that committed suicide.

Jonah. Jonah was really angry, he did not want the Lord to save Nineveh because he just thought they weren’t worth it.

“Now O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4:3

And even after God reached out to Jonah again with great compassion, he responded, “…I am angry enough to die.” Jonah 4:9

I have heard it said that depression is repressed anger.

Jonah 1:1-10 (NKJV)

1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah arose and went the other way!!

to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, (“he paid the fare” - have you ever noticed that it always COSTS US when we don’t obey the Lord or when we go our own way?) and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

4 But the Lord [a]sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.

5 Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten [b]the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.

6 So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” Perhaps your God will consider us shows they had open hearts about the One True God.

7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”

9 So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear [c]the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.