English
Português
Español
Français
Answer
Many individuals who are experiencing terminal illness, painful conditions, or profound sadness and emotional distress may desire death. Those enduring such suffering may question whether it is acceptable to request God to end their lives. Is this considered a type of suicide? Will God welcome us into heaven if we pray for death? Another concern that arises is whether such a prayer is sinful.
The desire to end one’s life and escape from suffering, whether physical or emotional, is a deeply human experience. Even Jesus Christ prayed, “O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as You will” «And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. », (Matthew 26:39). This reflected Jesus’ humanity. Despite knowing the suffering that awaited Him on the cross, He submitted to God’s will. Jesus consistently yielded Himself to the Father’s will «I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. », (John 5:30). In the Garden, Jesus acknowledged that there are moments when suffering is necessary, and He willingly endured it because it was the Father’s will.
As believers, we are instructed to always pray, “Your will be done.” None of us will perish before our appointed time, even if we may wish for it. David affirms the truth that all our days are ordained by God and nothing can shorten them beyond His will: “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” «Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; And in thy book all my members were written, Which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. », (Psalm 139:16).
ere fashioned, When as yet there was none of them. », (Psalm 139:16). Instead of praying to die, it is better to pray for God’s strength and grace to stand firm in whatever suffering we are experiencing and trust in God to determine the time and the details of our passing.
Suffering is challenging, and sometimes the most difficult part is the questions we have about why. Suffering is humbling, and as humans, we dislike being humbled or feeling weak and dependent. However, when we ask, “Why me, Lord?” the response may simply be “Why not you?” When born-again believers endure suffering on this earth, God has a purpose for that suffering, and His plans and purposes are flawless and holy, just as He is perfect and holy. The psalmist informs us, “As for God, His way is perfect” « As for God, his way is perfect: The word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him. », (Psalm 18:30). If God’s ways are perfect, then we can trust that whatever He does—and whatever He allows—is also perfect. This may not seem conceivable to us, but our minds are not God’s mind, as He reminds us in Isaiah 55:8–9.
The apostle Paul suffered from a “thorn in his flesh”—some affliction that is not explained in the Bible—and three times he prayed for the Lord to remove that thorn. However, God, who could have eased Paul’s suffering in an instant, chose not to do so. He reminded Paul that the “thorn” was to prevent him from becoming proud and “exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations” he had received, to prevent him from exalting himself. Nevertheless, God did not leave Paul powerless to suffer alone. God assured him that the grace he had received from God was “sufficient” and that God would be glorified by Paul’s reliance on His power to sustain him. Paul’s reaction to these truths was to rejoice in his frailty and sufferings because in themGod is glorified when the miracle of His power and strength is on display (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Therefore, instead of trying to avoid suffering through death, we rely on God and find rest in Him. His purpose in suffering will always bring glory to Him and result in blessings for us.
During times of intense suffering, we may feel like we cannot continue. However, God reminds us that no suffering or trial that befalls a believer is unique. Other believers have endured pain that modern medicine could not relieve. Some have faced persecution and cruel deaths at the hands of those who hate God. Others have experienced loneliness, abandonment, and imprisonment for their faith. Therefore, we are not alone. God is always faithful and will not let us be overwhelmed by suffering or trials. He will provide a way out so that we can endure “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”, (1 Corinthians 10:13).
In addressing the question of whether it is sinful to pray for death, it may simply boil down to the principle that “whatever is not of faith is sin” “But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”, (Romans 14:23). In other words, if our conscience tells us it is wrong, then it is wrong for us. Additionally, there is a Scripture that states, “Anyone, then, who knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”«Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.», (James 4:17). There is only one sin that keeps us out of heaven, and that is the sin of rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. However, praying to God to allow us to die can be a sin because doing so indicates a lack of faith. A better prayer would be “God, you have promised to sustain me through any trial. I beg you to take away my hopelessness, comfort me with your presence, and uphold me with your strong right hand. But in all things, not my will but yours be done. Amen.”
