When life is heavy
What does the Bible say about suicidal thoughts?
Scripture is honest about people who wanted to die, including Elijah and Job, and shows God meeting them with food, rest, presence and hope rather than rebuke. If you are having these thoughts, please reach out for help today.
If you are in danger or thinking of hurting yourself, please reach out right now: call your local emergency number, or in the US call or text 988. Find a free helpline in your country at findahelpline.com.
What Scripture says
Psalm 34:18
“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.”
1 Kings 19:4-8
“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree. Then he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough. Now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat!” He looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The LORD’s angel came again the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, God’s Mountain.”
Psalm 42:11
“Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him, the saving help of my countenance, and my God.”
Romans 8:38-39
“For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. See all Bible questions or verses by topic.