“Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?” (Eccles. 7:17 ESV)

When Life Feels Too Painful

Suicidal thoughts can come when pain, depression, loneliness, illness, rejection, or circumstances seem unbearable. In those dark moments, a person may believe there is no way out.

But there is hope. Do not make a permanent decision during a temporary season of darkness.

I Understand That Darkness

I understand some of this personally. When I was young, I experienced severe bullying and periods of deep depression. The pain became so overwhelming that I attempted suicide twice and was hospitalized.

That was more than sixty years ago. Looking back now, it is difficult to believe I was ever in such a dark place. But I still remember the anguish. At the time, everything looked so black that I could not see beyond it.

But what I could not see then was the life God still had ahead of me.

Had I died then, I would have missed more than sixty years of life, family, ministry, friendships, opportunities, and experiences that I could not possibly have imagined.

Your darkest moment does not determine the rest of your story.

Judas and Peter

The Bible tells us about two disciples who failed Jesus terribly.

Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Overcome with remorse, he returned the money and then took his own life (Matt. 27:3-5).

Peter also failed Jesus. He denied Him three times and afterward wept bitterly (Luke 22:54-62). But Peter lived to experience Christ’s forgiveness and restoration. Jesus restored Peter, and God later used him mightily.

Failure does not have to be the end of your story. Pain does not have to be the end of your story.

God is still able to restore, forgive, heal, and give you another chapter.

Therefore

If suicidal thoughts come, do not face them alone. Tell someone immediately—a family member, friend, pastor, counselor, doctor, or another person you trust. Get away from anything you could use to hurt yourself and stay with someone until the crisis passes.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18 ESV)

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17 ESV)

Hold on. Ask for help. Give tomorrow a chance. God is not finished with your story.

Prayer

Lord, when everything seems dark and I cannot see a way forward, help me hold on. Remind me that You are near to the brokenhearted. Give me courage to reach out for help and strength to make it through this moment. Protect my life, restore my hope, and help me trust You with the days ahead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Quotes

“Take care of your life and the Lord will take care of your death.” — George Whitefield

“Let God have your life; He can do more with it than you can.” — Dwight L. Moody

“What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.”
(Zech. 4:7 NIV)

When the Mountain Looks Too Big

Sometimes a problem rises before us like a mountain. It may be a financial difficulty, a broken relationship, an impossible decision, or circumstances we cannot change. We look up and wonder, How will I ever get past this?

Imagine standing at the foot of a huge mountain with no visible path to the other side. From where you stand, it looks impossible. But God sees what you cannot see. He knows the way over it, around it, through it—or He can simply move it.

What looks enormous to you is not enormous to God.

Mountains Are No Problem for God

“The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence…”
(Nahum 1:5)

“For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind… and treads on the heights of the earth—the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!”
(Amos 4:13 ESV)

“In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. (Psalm 95:4 ESV)

The God who created the mountains is greater than any mountain you will ever face.

His Love Remains When Everything Else Shakes

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken…” (Isa. 54:10 NIV)

Your circumstances may shake, but God’s love does not. Even when you cannot see how things will work out, you can trust the One who holds you securely.

Therefore

Bring your mountain to God. Pray boldly. Believe Him. Then take the next step He puts before you.

“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes… it will be done for them.” (Mark 11:23 NIV)

“Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.” (Isa. 40:4)

And Remember This

Faith is powerful, but it must always operate through love.

“If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:2 NIV)

Prayer

Lord, You know the mountain standing before me. What looks impossible to me is not impossible for You. Give me faith to trust You, courage to move forward, and patience when I must wait. Above all, help me face every challenge with faith, humility, and love. Amen.

Quote

“Purposes, plans, and achievements of men may all disappear like yon cloud upon the mountain’s summit; but, like the mountain itself, the things which are of God shall stand fast for ever and ever.”
— Charles Spurgeon

“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”
(Acts 19:20 KJV)

God’s Word Is Alive and Powerful

The Word of God is not powerless. When it is proclaimed, believed, and obeyed, lives are changed. In the early church, opposition could not stop it. The more the gospel was shared, the more people believed, and the Word continued to spread.

The Word of God Increased

“And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
(Acts 6:7 KJV)

When God’s Word increased, disciples multiplied. God uses His Word to bring people to faith and help them grow spiritually.

The Word of God Grew and Multiplied

“But the word of God grew and multiplied.”
(Acts 12:24 KJV)

People may oppose God’s Word, ignore it, or try to silence it, but they cannot stop its power. God’s truth continues to work wherever it is received.

God’s Word Accomplishes His Purpose

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
(Isa. 55:11 KJV)

When you share God’s Word with someone, you may not immediately see the results. But God promises that His Word will accomplish His purpose. Your responsibility is to faithfully plant the seed and trust God with the results.

Therefore

Let God’s Word grow in you. Read it. Believe it. Obey it. Share it. And allow it to become deeply rooted in your heart.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom…”
(Col. 3:16 ESV)

“My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.”
(Prov. 4:20-22 ESV)

Prayer

Lord, help Your Word to grow richly in my heart. Give me a hunger to read it, faith to believe it, courage to obey it, and opportunities to share it with others. Use Your Word through me to touch lives and bring people closer to You. Amen.

Quote

“The Word of God is edge all over. It is alive in every part, and in every part keen to cut the conscience and wound the heart.”
— Charles Spurgeon

“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world…” (Rev. 12:9 ESV)

Be Alert, but Don’t Be Afraid

The Bible does not tell us to ignore the devil, nor does it tell us to fear him. It tells us to recognize his schemes, resist him, and stand firm in our faith.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith…” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Satan works through lies and deception. Jesus called him “a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44 ESV)

He seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came to give us abundant life. (John 10:10 ESV)

Personal Story: When Everything Seemed to Go Wrong

There have been times in my life when trouble seemed to come from every direction at once. Problems piled on top of problems, discouragement set in, and I wondered, What is going on?

During times like these, I have learned that the most dangerous battle is often the one taking place in my mind. Thoughts come saying, Nothing is going to work out. God has forgotten you. You’re on your own.

That is when I must remember where those lies come from. Jesus called Satan “the father of lies.” Instead of accepting those thoughts, I can turn to God’s Word and remind myself of what is true: God is with me, God is for me, and the enemy does not have the final word.

Jesus Has Already Won

The good news is that we do not face the enemy in our own strength.

“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)

Therefore

“Neither give place to the devil.” (Eph. 4:27 ASV)

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Eph. 6:11)

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

When the enemy attacks, stay close to God, stand on His Word, and refuse to believe the enemy’s lies. You belong to Christ, and He is greater than the enemy you face.

“And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” (Rom. 16:20)

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You that You have already defeated the enemy. Help me recognize his lies and resist his attacks. Guard my heart and mind, help me put on the whole armor of God, and give me strength to stand firm in faith. Keep my eyes fixed on You and Your truth. Thank You that I do not fight alone and that the victory belongs to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Quote

“I’m not afraid of the devil… he can’t handle the One to whom I’m united; he can’t handle the One whose nature dwells in my nature.” — A. W. Tozer

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 ESV)

Love Is All Around Us

We hear countless songs about love. Movies, books, and poems are filled with stories about love. With so much said and written about it, you would think we would all be experts on the subject—but we are not.

Perhaps that is because the word love can mean so many different things.

Jesus showed us what the greatest kind of love looks like: being willing to lay down your life for another. And that is exactly what He did for us on the cross.

Jesus not only demonstrated this kind of love; He commanded us to follow His example:

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12 ESV)

We can love others this way because Jesus loved us first.

“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 ESV)

Therefore

“Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Cor. 16:14 ESV)

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7 ESV)

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8 ESV)

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13 ESV)

Quotes

“Love is the doorway through which the human soul passes from selfishness to service.” — Jack Hyles

“In the New Testament, love is more of a verb than a noun. It has more to do with acting than with feeling. The call to love is not so much a call to a certain state of feeling as it is to a quality of action.” — R. C. Sproul

“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
(Heb. 5:14 ESV)

Discernment Must Be Trained

Discernment is the ability to recognize the difference between truth and error, wisdom and foolishness, and good and evil. Scripture says this ability is trained by constant practice.

The more familiar you become with God’s Word, the easier it becomes to recognize something that does not agree with it.

Test What You Hear

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…” (1 John 4:1 ESV)

Not everything that sounds spiritual is from God. Test what you hear against Scripture. Popularity, sincerity, and persuasive words are never substitutes for truth.

Discern What Is Excellent

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent…” (Phil. 1:9-10 ESV)

Discernment is not only recognizing what is wrong; it is also recognizing what is best.

Ask God for Understanding

“Give your servant therefore an understanding mind… that I may discern between good and evil…”
(1 Kings 3:9 ESV)

Like Solomon, ask God for understanding. Before making a decision, ask: Does this agree with God’s Word? Does it honor Christ? Is it wise and pleasing to God?

Therefore

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 ESV)

Call to Action

Train your discernment every day. Read God’s Word, pray for wisdom, test what you hear, and put God’s truth into practice.

Quote

“One of the most subtle burdens God ever puts on us as saints is this burden of discernment concerning other souls.” - Oswald Chambers

“The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’” (Psalm 32:8 NLT)

God Instructs Us in Many Ways

God promises to guide, advise, and watch over His children. And He can use many different ways to get our attention.

“For God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it.” (Job 33:14)

Some Ways God Instructs His Children

Through Scripture

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” (2 Tim. 3:16 NIV)

Through His creation

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1 NIV)

Through other believers and their God-given gifts

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us…” (Rom. 12:6 NIV)

Through difficulties

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.” (Psalm 119:67 NIV)

Through the Holy Spirit

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26 NIV)

Through circumstances

Jonah ran from God’s instructions, but God used a violent storm to get his attention and redirect his life. (Jonah 1:1-4)

Test Everything by Scripture

God can use people, circumstances, difficulties, and many other things to instruct us, but His guidance will never contradict His Word.

The Bereans eagerly listened to Paul, but they still examined the Scriptures every day to make sure what they were hearing was true.

“…they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11 NIV)

Therefore

Stay teachable. Read God’s Word, listen to the Holy Spirit, pay attention to what God may be teaching you through others and your circumstances, and test everything by Scripture.

“Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.”
(Prov. 19:20 NLT)

Quote

“Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion—it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.” — Billy Graham

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9 NIV)

Don’t Give Up!

Everyone gets weary at times. You can become tired physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. Sometimes you may wonder if your efforts are making any difference at all.

God’s Word says, don’t give up! There is a harvest coming “at the proper time.” You may not see the results yet, but God does.

Come to God and Be Given Rest

Jesus doesn’t tell weary people simply to try harder. He invites them to come to Him.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28 ESV)

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me… and you will find rest for your souls.”
(Matt. 11:29 ESV)

Therefore

When you are weary, don’t quit. Come to Jesus, rest in Him, and allow Him to renew your strength.

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus…” (2 Tim. 2:1 ESV)

“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” (Jer. 31:25 ESV)

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isa. 40:31 ESV)

Quote

“When you face the perils of weariness, carelessness, and confusion, don’t pray for an easier life. Pray instead to be a stronger man or woman of God.” — Luis Palau

“…While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him…” (Luke 15:20, NIV)

You Can Always Come Home

Jesus told the story of a young man who deliberately made terrible choices. He asked his father for his inheritance, left home, and squandered everything on wild living. When his money and friends were gone, he became so desperate that he took a job feeding pigs and was hungry enough to eat their food.

Then he came to his senses.

He realized he had sinned against God and his father. So he decided to return home, confess what he had done, and ask to become a servant.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, ran to him, embraced him, and welcomed him home. Instead of condemnation, there was forgiveness, restoration, and celebration!

Jesus was showing us the heart of our heavenly Father. Even when we deliberately blow it, we can repent and come home. God is ready to forgive and restore us.

“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)

Therefore

If you have blown it big time, don’t stay in the pigpen! Come home. Confess your sin, turn back to God, and receive His forgiveness.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12 ESV)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 ESV)

Quotes

“God pardons like a mother, who kisses the offense into everlasting forgiveness.” — Henry Ward Beecher

“When we stray from His presence, He longs for you to come back… He throws His arms open, runs toward you, gathers you up, and welcomes you home.” — Charles Stanley