THE SPIRIT OF SUICIDE

Suicide as per Wikipedia, is the act of intentionally causing one’s own death. The question that comes to mind is why would someone entertain and then act on this thought? Is life and living not the ultimate expression of our existence as mankind?

I was appalled when seeing statistics of suicides committed in the Southern Cape and was prompted to look at statistics of suicides committed in South Africa. One article said that “23 suicides are committed per day in South Africa, according to Sadag.” The global trend is that one person takes their life every 40 seconds. The cause can be multiple, but suicide is normally associated with depression and anxiety as per most support groups.

Wikipedia mentions  mental disorders —including depression, bipolar disorder, autism, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, physical disorders such as chronic fatigue syndrome, and substance abuse —including alcoholism and the use of and withdrawal from benzodiazepines — as factors.Some suicides are impulsive acts due to stress (such as from financial or academic difficulties), relationship problems (such as breakups or deaths of close ones), or harassment/bullying.

A look at the spiritual root causes

In a book by John Eckhardt on Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare he states that if you have attempted suicide or thought of killing yourself, that it can be a manifestation of spirits of rejection, self-rejection, suicide and rebellion. He further states that involvement in the occult opens the door for many demons, including spirits of depression, suicide, death, destruction, sickness, mental illness, addiction, lust, etc.

The impact of depression

Depression has a huge impact on suicide. It has the effect where the person feels heavy-burdened or laiden by a certain problem, trouble or hardship. The feeling of total hopelessness and helplessness stems from this. Sadness, loneliness, death, self-destruction, gloom and self-pity are the consequences of depression.

I want to encourage the depressed individual with the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 11 vs 28-30 where He says 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Depression – includes despondency, despair, discouragement, and hopelessness. There are multitudes of people who suffer from bouts of depression. Many of them are being medicated. Going in and out of depression is a sign of double-mindedness. This also includes withdrawal and isolation. Depression is at an all-time high. There are many people being treated for manic depression (bipolar). This can even drive people to hopelessness and suicide.

Depression can cause a person to desire to escape, which can lead to sleepiness and abusing of alcohol and drugs.

Sorrow of heart

The result of a curse of sorrow of heart is failure, tragedy, frustration, death, destruction, family problems, marital problems, sickness, disease, mental illness, suicide, miscarriages, accidents, depression, sadness, sorrow, grief, vexation, torment, hopelessness, despair, poverty, lack, business failure, confusion, pain, begetting sins, stumbling blocks, guilt, shame, condemnation, lamentation, suffering, misery, bitter experiences, ill fortune, setbacks, travail, groaning, hard times, reverses, distress, calamity, mishaps, slumps, recession and woe.

As you can see from the above, the enemy of our soul has access to various potential causes for suicide.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. This scripture is just one of many scriptures, which promises that you are not alone in your misery. That God is there with you in agony. I want to advise you to speak to God in prayer and then to find a close personal friend who is spiritually mature to talk to.

Do not remain alone or isolated. Reach out for help. Another helpful application is for you to look for a person in need and to give yourself in helping someone else. There is a powerful healing and restoring remedy in us serving the needs of others. It is my prayer that the spirit of death and suicide would be lifted from your soul and that you would be delivered from this bondage.

That concludes my pause for thought for today. Please do not hesitate to contact me, if you need any further help in this matter.

God Bless

R v Staden