Hope in the Midst of Despair
I wanted to put this out there as one of the first individual topics because of its seriousness. I want to give practical biblical tools to help anyone who is looking for God’s answers to their mental health challenges. I am not a licensed therapist or mental health professional. While I have experience in both mental health and Christian ministry, I am not an expert on anyone’s individual situation. My goal is to encourage and equip Christians to grow in faith and fight spiritual battles with hope and victory in sight. If you are in immediate danger, please seek help; call a trusted friend, your pastor, or a crisis hotline. God often works through people to bring rescue and healing. For a crisis hotline (in the U.S) dial 988.
“Why do you care?”
That very question was asked of me early in my career as a mental health intern. I was sitting across from a man, at the time twice my age, holding a knife in the air
……wailing through tears, “Why do you care?”
I had been trained to stay calm. To not react. To de-escalate. But his question, those four words, hit my bones.I stood there, raw in my humanity, and with all my training, the only thing I could manage to say was “I don’t know.” Because it was true. I did not know why I cared. That question haunted me for years. It’s easy to say why you care for someone you love, or know, or do life with, but a complete stranger? Why would I care? Why would you?
Can I suggest that before we answer that question, we ask something even deeper, something every Christian must wrestle with “Does God Have a Plan for Our Mental Health?
According to the law of non-contradiction, something cannot be both true and not true at the same time in the same way. So, either God does have a plan; meaning there’s purpose, design, and hope -even in our suffering. Or God does not, which means we’re left to define our own path, with no ultimate meaning behind our struggles.
Both can’t be true. This is why worldview matters because the stakes are high, and the answers aren’t all equally valid.
Christianity offers a view of the human person that stretches across time: past, present, and future. In the past, we are justified meaning, that through faith in Christ, we are declared righteous before God. We’re no longer condemned. The penalty for sin has been paid. This gives us peace with God and a secure identity. In the present, we are being sanctified—a lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. This includes growing in holiness, but also in emotional, relational, and mental wholeness. And in the future, we will be glorified—this is our ultimate hope. One day, we will be fully healed. Not just emotionally or physically, but spiritually. Sin’s presence will be gone. No more suffering, confusion, or brokenness. We will be with God, fully restored.
This redemptive arc—justification, sanctification, and glorification—shapes how we understand true mental health and human flourishing. Healing is not just possible; IT IS promised.
I purpose that God does have a plan for our mental health. Not a plan that promises an easy life — but a life anchored in truth, purpose, and hope. In Christ, we are known in our struggles, loved in our brokenness, and transformed in our journey. Hope is real because God is real.
You are known intimately by God — nothing about you is hidden (Psalm 139).
You are deeply loved, unconditionally and forever (Romans 8).
You can be transformed — made new, no matter your past (2 Corinthians 5).
You are never alone — God promises His presence in every trial (Isaiah 41).
Digging Deeper:
Satan, the “father of lies” (John 8:44) delights in isolating believers, whispering that they are alone, worthless, and beyond help. His goal is to silence the voice of hope, to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). Suicide, like every sin, is tragic and costly. It leaves behind devastation and unanswered questions for those who remain. Human beings are not mere accidents of evolution where despair makes sense, but rather human beings are image-bearers of God (Genesis 1:27), and every life has infinite worth, and every breath has eternal purpose.
Christianity is the only worldview that adequately explains both the depth of human brokenness and the sufficiency of God’s solution at the cross.
Our hope is not that sin is small, but that Christ’s payment is greater. Scripture reminds us that Christ’s sacrifice covers past, present, and future sins (Romans 8:1; Hebrews 10:14). This does not give us a license to sin (Romans 6:1–2). Instead, it offers assurance: God’s mercy is deeper than our despair, and His grace is not undone by our darkest moments. J.P. Moreland, in his writings on the soul and the mind, reminds us that we are more than biology. Our struggles with despair and suicidal thoughts are not only chemical but also deeply spiritual. They point to a soul in need of truth, healing, and hope. This is why renewing the mind with Scripture (Romans 12:2) and seeking fellowship in the body of Christ are essential. Isolation magnifies lies; community magnifies truth. As the church, let’s learn to speak honestly about despair while also speaking LOUDER about hope. Lets:
Reach out to the isolated, reminding them they are not alone.
Speak life-giving truth into lies of worthlessness.
Point to the mercy of Christ, who paid it all.
Be a light of presence and compassion, embodying the hope we proclaim.
Suicide is never God’s desire for His children. Yet even here, the gospel offers hope: Christ bore our griefs, carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4), and triumphed over death. Because of Him, despair is never the final word; hope is. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please hear this: your life matters. You are loved, seen, and not beyond God’s reach. And you are not meant to carry this alone. Reach out, talk to someone, let the body of Christ walk with you.
How to fight suicidal thoughts
Suicidal thoughts are one of the most devastating battles a person can face. They whisper lies that life has no purpose, that your pain will never end, and that you would be better off gone. From a biblical perspective, these thoughts are not simply psychological struggles but deeply spiritual battles. Satan, who comes to "steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10), loves to isolate believers, convince them they are worthless, and tempt them to abandon hope. God’s Word offers both truth and power to resist these lies.
1. Recognize the Battle: Lies vs. Truth
The Lie: "You are worthless."
The Truth: You are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Your worth is not in what you do or feel but in who God created you to be.
The Lie: "Things will never change."
The Truth: God promises His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23). Your circumstances today are not the end of your story.
The Lie: "No one cares."
The Truth: God demonstrated His love for you in that while you were still a sinner, Christ died for you (Romans 5:8). You are seen, loved, and pursued by God Himself.
Feelings of despair are not evidence of God’s absence but a reminder that only His presence can fulfill the soul.
2. Take Every Thought Captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Suicidal thoughts are destructive, but Scripture teaches us to take them captive and make them obedient to Christ. This means:
Speak the truth of Scripture out loud when lies come.
Replace “I can’t go on” with “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Replace “I am alone” with “God will never leave me nor forsake me” (Hebrews 13:5).
J.P. Moreland, who himself has struggled with suicidal depression, reminds us that the mind can be trained to align with God’s truth. Transformation begins with replacing destructive thought patterns with God’s Word. Some fear that suicidal thoughts—or even a suicide attempt—places them outside of God’s forgiveness. But the Bible is clear: the cross paid for sins—past, present, and future. Salvation is not based on the last act of your life but on Christ’s finished work (John 19:30).
3. Fight Isolation with Community
Satan thrives in silence and isolation. Scripture calls us to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) and to encourage each other daily so that we are not hardened by sin’s deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:13).
Tell someone you trust about your struggle.
Surround yourself with believers who will pray, encourage, and speak life into you.
If needed, seek professional Christian counseling—God uses the body of Christ, including those trained to help, as part of His healing design.
Christianity is not just true but good. The Christian worldview uniquely offers real hope, because it roots identity, purpose, and future security in Christ. Paul wrote that our present sufferings are “not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Life is not meaningless; it is preparation for eternal joy with Christ.
Another key way to fight suicidal thoughts is to hold fast to God’s promises and His unchanging character. Remember who God is—His love, faithfulness, sovereignty, wisdom, and mercy—can sustain the soul. Scriptures like Lamentations 3:22–23 remind us that His mercies are new every morning, and Psalm 34:18 assures us that He is close to the brokenhearted. Meditating on God’s attributes and the promises allows us to persevere, not by our own strength, but by trusting in His faithful nature.
Hold on:
Write down specific promises
Example: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5) or “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18). Seeing them in writing helps anchor your mind.
Meditate on God’s attributes
Focus on His love, faithfulness, mercy, sovereignty, and wisdom. Reflect on times He has been faithful in your life.
Speak truth out loud
When lies of despair arise, counter them verbally with God’s promises. Example: “Though I feel hopeless, God is faithful and my life is in His hands.”
Memorize key verses
Having Scripture in your heart allows you to recall it in moments of crisis. Verses like Romans 8:38–39 or Lamentations 3:22–23 are especially grounding.
Pray and journal
Write to God about your struggles, and remind yourself of His faithfulness. Seeing your prayers and reflections on paper can strengthen your perspective.
Engage supportive community
Share the promises and attributes you’re holding onto with a trusted friend, mentor, or pastor. They can remind you of God’s truths when your mind is clouded.
Practice gratitude for God’s past faithfulness
Reflect on past seasons where He sustained you. Remembering how God has delivered you before strengthens trust in His ongoing care.
God’s Word offers both truth and power to resist lies. Fighting suicidal thoughts is active, not passive. So, actively fight! Scripture repeatedly calls us to resist the devil (James 4:7). This is a war for the mind. God has already won the ultimate battle through Christ. By actively resisting the devil, holding onto His promises, relying on community, and meditating on God’s attributes, we participate in His victory. You are not alone, and your life has eternal value.
“The deepest lessons come out of the deepest waters and the hottest fires.” - Elisabeth Elliot
References
Elliot, E. (2019). Suffering is never for nothing. Tyndale House.
New International Bible (2011). Zondervan. (Original work published 1978).
Moreland, J. P. (2019). Finding quiet: My story of overcoming anxiety and the practices that brought peace. Zondervan.
