Overwhelmed: Suicide

     Many people at some point in their lives think about committing suicide.  And it's not that they are crazy, it's that they have more stress and pain than they can handle at that time.  As a teenager there were times that I struggled with thoughts of wanting to end my life, just to make everything stop.  And I know that I am not alone in this.  As we look through the pages of the Bible, we see people who were so overwhelmed that they either wanted to die or did kill themselves.
     Elijah is one of my heroes of the faith.  He did some great things through God's power and yet he came to a point that he just wanted to die.  In 1 Kings 19:4 we read, "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and 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."  As we dig a little bit deeper, we see what lead him to a point of suicide, and what brought him back to a place of fruitful ministry for the Lord.  The first thing that we notice is that he was spiritually exhausted.  He had just finished that great confrontation on Mt. Carmel against the 850 false prophets, and had witnessed God's great power as He rained down fire from heaven.  He was physically exhausted.  He had killed the false prophets and then basically ran a marathon from Mt. Carmel to Jezreel, which is approximately 25 miles.  Needless to say, after such a long day, he was tired.  He was also emotionally exhausted.  He had spent the better part of three years in solitude, which finally got to him emotionally.  In 1 Kings 19, Elijah stresses the fact that he felt all alone.  And now on top of it, Jezebel, who had already killed other prophets of the Lord, had now promised to kill him as well.  When you add up all three of these, it equaled one thing in Elijah's life,  he was overwhelmed.
     To turn things around in Elijah's life, he got renewal in these three areas.  First, he got physically renewed.  He got some rest and ate some food.  Sometimes we are so busy that we get physically worn out and the most spiritual thing that we can do when in a state of physical exhaustion is to rest.  Secondly, he got spiritually renewed.  He got alone with God, and let God speak to him.  Psalm 119:25 says, " My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word."  The psalmist said when he felt close to death that he needed God to revive and renew him through His word.  Thirdly, he got emotionally renewed.  At the end of 1 Kings 19, we see that God sends Elijah a friend to minister unto him.  Godly friends are such a blessing!  They help encourage us when we are discouraged.  That is the most important reason that you and I are to gather together with other believers on a regular basis, so that we can encourage and strengthen one another.  So if you are feeling like you are worthless and you would be better off dead, take some time to figure out what is making you feel that way.  Are you physically, spiritually, and emotionally exhausted?  Seek out help!  Turn to a friend, a family member, or a church that can help you get renewed.  Most importantly, turn to God, who makes all things new.