2/10/26

Today's Devotional subject is not a fun topic to discuss. It is instead probably the hardest thing for a family to deal with. It involves struggles, turmoil, depression, brokenness, suffering, and death. It is the topic of suicide.

I did not choose this topic God brought me to this scripture and said this will be your devo.

Life in the fallen state of this world is extremely hard. The worst of our emotions is the despair of loneliness. This is why God reassures us that we will never be alone when we place our faith in Him. His scripture says in both Hebrews13:5, 7 NASB95, Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”

Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

and,

Deuteronomy 31:8 NASB95, The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Both places show He is with us always but we need to follow.

So this feeling of being alone is a lie of Satan and an attempt to draw your attention to self and away from God.

Then God also tells us we should always choose life. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NASB95, I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

There are two people in scripture who are known for their suffering. Of course, the first one is Christ we are told in Isaiah 52: 14 NASB95, Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men.

No man has ever suffered to the point of the Christ. Jesus was marred more than any man! Knowing what lay in front of Him, He prayed to the Father, in Matthew 26:39 NASB95, And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Jesus desired life, but in obedience and love, he died so that we might live forever in eternity. Of course, this is speaking spiritually, of eternal life, and no man apart from the Christ can die for another man to live eternal. Yet the point is the same, Christ came and died so we might live. We must always choose life!

The second person is Job. Job suffered the loss of all his family except his wife. He suffered the loss of all he owned. He suffered the loss of health and comfort. Last he suffered the bad advice from "friends." Yet our text today shows us that he chose life. Plus he never stopped calling on God. Job 14:14-15 NASB95, “If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes. “You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands.

Job says if I stop living in this life will I have the chance to live here again? The answer is no. When you die here on earth then here on earth you are dead. So Job's decision is to choose life.

He says, "All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes." Job is saying, God and only God will decide my death. I will not choose to die now because then I will be dead. He is saying, my God who is with me and promised that He will be with me, told me to choose life and that is what I will do. Job knows that there will come a day when God will call him to eternal life, and then and only then will he go. He says, "You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands."

We are the work of God's hands. He created us, He owns us. He loves us. He guides us. He will never leave us. Therefore we are His and not our own. He is the only one who decides the time of our death.

Job realized this and therefore he waited and God blessed him. Job 42:10 NASB95 The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold.

Notice, at that point Job did not think of himself. He prayed for his friends. This is when God restored.

Satan had not succeeded in drawing Jobs' attention inward and away from God.

Things are never as bad as you think they are. You are never alone. You are the handiwork of God and He is always with you. Seek Him. Wait on Him. HE WILL ANSWER!

If Job chose life, and if Jesus desired life but died for you, then why would you think that you have the option to choose for yourself?

Scripture says in Jeremiah 29:11-14 NASB95 ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. ‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’

Suffering is only for a time in this fallen world of exile. God restored Job and He will restore you.

If you are thinking of suicide. Stop, instead think of God who loves you, and Jesus who died so you can live. Think of Job who is an example of waiting, following in obedience, and being restored. Then last think of your family who will have to go through suffering if you don't wait on the Lord.

Then call and talk to someone in a local church or a Christian counselor who can help you grow in your walk with Christ.

Of course, I am always available also.

Love Bro. Scott