1 Kings 19:4 Elijah
came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he
might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."
The recent tragic death of the actor
Robin Williams created a lot of sadness for many people. His ability to make us
laugh was exceptional and he was a very gifted and much loved comedian. But
there was a dark side to his life, a shadow of despair that crept over his
soul, causing him to become an addict, and sadly ended with his suicide. Behind
his Peter Pan smile and outrageous behavior that made us laugh hysterically,
was a person who was suffering internally. We may not know what his last
thoughts were or what ultimately drove him to take his own life; all that we do
know is the fact that his untimely death has impacted millions of people.
Suicide, no matter what the old song
from MASH declared, is never painless. Someone always gets hurt; someone always
gets left with guilt. When I overdosed with tranquilizers as a teenager, I did
it because I wanted to be in control of my life at a time when things, events,
and people around me were out of control. My mother’s insanity deeply affected
me and I’m certain that it also wounded the rest of my siblings. I just wanted
to show everyone how hurt I was and let them deal with the consequences. I
wanted to die because I was weary with life.
It was very selfish of me and an
easy way out. I even thought that if God wasn’t going to change the
circumstances of my life, then I didn’t want Him to interfere with my death. I
was in control and nobody could take that away from me. Once I was dead, I was
dead to the world; anyone who was hurt would just have to deal with it.
Thankfully, three friends found me
passed out in my bedroom. They took me to the ER where the team of medics
flushed everything out of my system. I was kept in for three days at the
hospital for two reasons: a much-needed psychological assessment and to make
certain that my organs did not pack in. God, it seems, had other plans even
though I wilfully and selfishly tried to oust Him and everyone else from my
life.
In today’s Bible passage (1 Kings 19:1-9), Elijah is weary of life. He
erroneously thought that his victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel
would have reaped rewards, esteem, and glory. Instead, it was met with an
immediate death threat from Queen Jezebel which soon deflated Elijah’s ego. In
his sorrowful and lamentable state, he ran away and just wanted to die to end
all of his misery and despair. However, God had other plans which involved
Elijah’s well-being and extended his ministry among God’s people.
When we accept suicide as a personal
means for people to let go of their responsibilities, frustrations, dignity,
and pain, then we’re saying that God cannot help and that the love of loved
ones and friends is ineffective. From my personal experience, the darkness of a
successful suicide would have robbed me of the faith, hope, light, and love
that was yet to come. This is why I believe that suicide or even euthanasia
does not always have to be the answer to our suffering. There is always hope;
there is always light; there is always love.
Questions for personal reflection
What do I think
about the act of suicide? How can faith in God help prevent it?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, in the midst of darkness
and despair, remain our light and hope. Grant us the faith to rely upon Your
love, as well as the strength to overcome our weariness and woes. Keep us mindful
of how precious the gift of life is, and help us to encourage and support our
loved ones who are burdened by their worries, illnesses, and fears. In Your
Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
If you, or a loved one, or a friend are having
suicidal thoughts, please talk to your doctor or find a good counsellor or psychologist
who will help you to cope with your problems.
John
Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you
would like to comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him
an email to Traqair@aol.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment