I Just Want to Die: Replacing Suicidal Thoughts with Hope

CCEF Minibooks

by David A. Powlison

Are you having suicidal thoughts and feelings? Perhaps you are convinced that life is not worth living. Your life seems hopeless, like a black hole with all love, hope, and joy sucked out. In CCEFs I Just Want to Replacing Suicidal Thoughts with Hope, David Powlison describes the various reasons you might be feeling hopeless and explains that God is not surprised or put off by your hopeless feelings.Your life is precious to God. He knows everything about you--even how many hairs are on your head. He wants you to bring your despair to him and cry for help. He will answer and replace your suicidal thoughts with hope for a future filled with love for him and others. All the minibooks in our Christian bookstore offer gospel-centered hope for everyday issues like parenting, marriage, and personal change. These easy-to-read discipleship and biblical counseling resources tackle lifes toughest issues in 30 minutes or less.Minibooks are frequently used by pastors and ministry leaders to help others apply biblical wisdom to specific life issues. Churches, biblical counseling ministries, and missional organizations make the minibooks available in their acrylic display cases to further discipleship and gospel-centered living.

Genres: Counselling, Christian, Psychology

24 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2010

About the author

David Powlison, MDiv, PhD, (1949–2019) was a teacher, counselor, and the executive director of the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He wrote many books and minibooks, including Speaking Truth in Love, Seeing with New Eyes, Good and Angry, Making All Things New, God's Grace in Your Suffering, Safe and Sound, and Take Heart. David was also the editor of The Journal of Biblical Counseling.

Reviews

[Brian Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent booklet to read with a friend who has considered suicide. It will provide much material for fruitful conversation together and it will open doors for ministering to them.

[En Yi WEI · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and straightforward, gentle and gracious. It may or may not save/stop someone from carrying out the plan to die. Still, it is one arrows among others that God could use to break the falsehood in the minds of our friends, and do a marvellous, rescue work.

Worth the money and time to buy and read, for anyone ... thinking of suicide or seeking to help a suicidal friend.

[Adam Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

An encouraging biblically-based primer on dealing with depression and dark thoughts of ending one’s own life. Good counsel for realignment of one’s perspective on life circumstances without having to read a larger volume on the subject - this can easily be read in one sitting.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biblical comfort and encouragement. It's very short (29 minutes in audio). I know this is meant to be a brief booklet which is only a starting point, but this topic requires more material.

Notes
Part 1
Suicide will disturb and unsettle those you leave behind. They'll be haunted by questions such as "Why did they do it? Why did they leave us? Why didn't they ask for help? Why weren't we able to help?"

Those you leave behind will feel guilt, responsibility, failure. They'll wonder if your suicide was because of something they did or didn't do.

Those you leave behind won't think you did them a favor. They'll think you didn't love them, because how could you love them yet still hurt them so deeply?

Suicide ends relationships, with no hope for reconciliation.

Suicide leaves a negative example to follow, teaching that it's an appropriate way to deal with problems.

Fight suicidal thoughts with truths about God and you
• In love, God has come in person as Savior from death (Isa 43:1; Rom 5:8).
• Suicide is wrong, because it's unjustly taking a life (Ex 20:13).
• When you pour out your heart to God, He hears you (Ps 31:22; 55:17).

Suicidal thoughts can be due to unrealized dreams. What problem(s) do you believe suicide will solve? This points to what's most important to you; what you think would make your life worth living.

If your suicidal thoughts are due to unrelenting suffering, read Ps 31. v 24 shows that you can endure because God is with you. Hope in Him. Jesus endured suffering for joy of doing His Father's will (Heb 12:2). Fix your eyes on Him, the author and perfecter of your faith (Heb 12:2).

If your suicidal thoughts are due to guilt and shame of personal failure, read Ps 32. Despite David's guilt and shame for his sin, he found joy in God's forgiveness and guidance (v 1, 2, 8). Turn to God about your failures, not inward or to others (v 6).

If your suicidal thoughts are due to unrealized dreams, read Ps 33. Anything you trust in besides God is futile. God can deliver your soul from eternal death (v 18-21).

If your suicidal thoughts are due to false hopes, read Rom 8. True hope comes from knowing God as your Father, receiving His Spirit as a gift, going to Father for help (v 15-16). Your present suffering isn't worth comparing to future glory (v 18). Nothing in this world can separate you from God's love (v 35).

You can trust God's promises because Jesus defeated death by dying on cross and rising from death (1 Pet 1:3-4).

Practical Strategies for Change
Ask God for living hope (Mt 7:7-8).

Find people to love, serve, give to.

Live godly, fruitful life. Learn conflict resolution, forgiveness, giving.

To find genuine meaning, purpose, and joy, live for God Who gave His only Son's life for you. Share His hope with others and do good (Eph 2:10).

[Jonny Swales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would highly recommend this to anyone who is or has ever at some point contemplated suicide, and for those counselling others with suicidal thoughts. This is a fast, quick, immediate response to suicidal thoughts ‘right now’ and directly addresses the lies that underpin the urge to take your own life, and ministers to them the Gospel of God’s mercy, rescue and love in the resurrected Saviour Jesus Christ. I should have read this book a long time ago. Highly recommend.

[Allison Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very short, helpful resource. I appreciate that it’s written to the counselee, and addresses common lies people believe when they are experiencing suicidal thoughts. I will likely give this to counselees I’m meeting with in the future.

[Rena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very good mini booklet and I think it has helped me when I am faced with a friend that is struggling this way.

[Gioia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good counseling quick guide

[Mark Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with CHC Elders.

[S Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have given this out and used the message in this many times to help people wrestling with this very issue. Highly relevant, highly helpful.

[Josh Peglow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but good. Would be a great resource to read with someone having suicidal thoughts.

[Andrew Gates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great booklet (20 pgs) to read with someone struggling with suicidal thoughts