Has life gotten so difficult that you wish you were dead? You have lost taste for this world, and death would be a relief. You secretly envy really old people because they are nearer to death than you are?

Can Christians feel that way? Would God approve of those thoughts? Do those thoughts show that there is no God in our hearts?

On the contrary, God will lead us to circumstances where such thoughts will occur. Don’t take my word for it. Take God’s word for it.

“For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” 2 Cor. 1:8-9

The great Apostle Paul felt so desperate that death would be a welcome relief. He states this elsewhere also (Phil. 1:23). But why? Why would a loving God lead us to circumstances that we would want to die? Paul tells us the answer in the second half of the verse above: “.. that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” 

There are days when I am so exhausted physically, emotionally, and spiritually that I want to shut myself off from the world and hibernate. The only reason why I wouldn’t take myself out of this world is because my family needs me. And I often blame God for letting me be in such circumstances. But is it God’s doing? Yes, it is! But it is for my GOOD. It is so that I will learn to rely on Him and not on my own strength. He is getting me to the point where I will give up, so that He can take over….

This, unfortunately, is a lesson we have to learn over and over and over. We are naturally self-reliant (anti-gospel). And God will remind us again and again that we are not to be relied upon. And He will take us to the throes of death to teach us that lesson.

Are you at the end of your ropes? What is making you feel desperate? What expectations do you have? God says to you, “Come to me all you who are heavy laden. I will give you rest for your soul.”

PH