According to the national news source CNN, suicide in the US has risen by 25% since 1999, and in some parts of the country that percentage is much higher. We are constantly hearing about individuals who have battled depression for extended periods of time, and unexpectedly took their lives to the dismay of their family. Depression is also a growing epidemic in our country. Of course, in such cases most people look to professional counseling and medication to cope, however, those remedies do not take into account that we are tripartite beings; composed not only of soul and body but also of spirit. This truth impacts how we treat those suffering from depression and those who are suicidal. Depression and suicide in many cases are not merely physiological issues, but spiritual.
As spiritual beings, we engage with the spirit realm on a constant basis. Our physical world and the spirit realm overlap… and things happen there first impacting the physical. Our spirits are also influenced by the spirit realm. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 says “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Our spirits need to be preserved as well as our souls and bodies. Many who are attempting suicide are driven by spiritual entities called demons. Demons torment and drive their victims, bombarding their minds with thoughts of despair and death. They taunt by replaying failures, images of people mocking, moments of embarrassment, rejection and fear. Their torture is relentless.
Demons operate like dark clouds that come and hover. When a demon of depression comes, it creates confusion, despair, hopelessness, lack of energy, and the illusion of being trapped. The victim is plunged into a realm of overwhelming despondency, as the enemy whispers suicide ideations. This may sound strange or foreign to some, but the reality is, demons are real, and they will drive people to their deaths. The phrase “the devil made me do it” often rings true in the case of suicide. Demons are relentless in their mission, and without the grace of God, the victim is often powerless to overcome.
The enemy comes to “steal, kill and destroy.” He steals virtue, destroys all hope of recovery and eventually takes their very lives. Scripture clearly tells us that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and soundness of mind.” 1 John goes on to say that fear involves torment, and only the love of the Father can deliver us from this depth of torment. One reason why people do not recover from depression and seem to face an endless battle with this issue, is because the demon factor is often overlooked or ignored. Demons don’t respond to pills or counseling. They only leave when evicted by the power in the name of Jesus Christ. Freedom is real, and for the depressed and suicidal individual, it can be obtained through deliverance by the name of Jesus!