Heartsick (2)

“He gives power to the weak.”       Isa 40:29 NKJV

We say things like “As long as there’s life there’s hope,” or “Hope is tying a knot at the end of the rope and holding on,” believing that things will get better. But when hope seems delayed or denied, mental and emotional illness can cause some people to look for a permanent way out. Suicide excludes God. When you take your life there’s nothing more He can do for you. It leaves a legacy of unresolved pain that will live on in the hearts of your loved ones. For generations Christian leaders have debated and disagreed on the question of suicide. But every one of them believes these words: “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression” (Pr 12:25 NKJV). And depression undealt with, can end in self-destruction. It may not be the result of a bullet or a drug overdose; it may be a decision to stop eating, or overeat, or stop reaching for help because the help they’ve received has not worked. But the end result is the same. A national mental health organization estimates that women are twice as likely to get depressed as men. People in low-income families are reportedly less likely to be treated for this disorder because they cannot afford to get help. Does the Bible have an answer? Yes. “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isa 40:29-31 NKJV).

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