God's Providence and Suicides

[kategarbino]

Hello,

I’ve been reading a book ('How to meet your One True Love by Bo Sanchez), and in one of his ‘tips’, he mentioned that "You create your own destiny." I can’t stop thinking that what he’s saying is wrong because it defers to the Bible passage of Jer 29:11. I believe that the saints encourages us to give our plans to God and He will guide us through. But how do we explain suicides if “we don’t create our own destiny”? Can we explain that it was God’s purpose for that person to kill him/herself?

This is just a question that has been in my mind lately, and I actually like to understand it more. This is just my second time creating a new thread, so pardon me for placing it on a different topic (although I think it is kind of philosophical).

Thanks and may God Bless all of you.

Kate

 

[perro_sarnoso]

Hello,

I’ve been reading a book ('How to meet your One True Love by Bo Sanchez), and in one of his ‘tips’, he mentioned that "You create your own destiny." I can’t stop thinking that what he’s saying is wrong because it defers to the Bible passage of Jer 29:11. I believe that the saints encourages us to give our plans to God and He will guide us through. But how do we explain suicides if “we don’t create our own destiny”? Can we explain that it was God’s purpose for that person to kill him/herself?

This is just a question that has been in my mind lately, and I actually like to understand it more. This is just my second time creating a new thread, so pardon me for placing it on a different topic (although I think it is kind of philosophical).

Thanks and may God Bless all of you.

Kate

If there were no humility in the world…everyone would’ve long ago commited suicide.

Despair leads to suicide. The person that is in such desperation that he or she cannot see any other way out except for suicide - has turned his or her back on humility.

A humble person will accept conditions and situations that would bring an un-humble person to despair to such an extreme as to reject any help, any choice any other contingent other than suicide.

Despair is the opposite of humility.

 

[Luxmundi]

If there were no humility in the world…everyone would’ve long ago commited suicide.

Despair leads to suicide. The person that is in such desperation that he or she cannot see any other way out except for suicide - has turned his or her back on humility.

A humble person will accept conditions and situations that would bring an un-humble person to despair to such an extreme as to reject any help, any choice any other contingent other than suicide.

Despair is the opposite of humility.

That’s a horrible thing to say. Would you say that to your mother if one of your siblings committed suicide? You have no idea what you’re talking about, which you speak with such assertion. This is a very sensitive topic. You should be more careful how you choose to address it. I’m sure people come here hoping to find words of encouragement on various topics. I can’t distinguish your remarks from any secular chat room out there. You should thank God you haven’t been pushed to the brink of the “despair” you mention. “Un-humility”, as you call it has nothing at all to do with anyone ending their life. If there were such a word, I would say it describes your own ignorance.

 

[Sacred_Heart_1]

If there were no humility in the world…everyone would’ve long ago commited suicide.

Despair leads to suicide. The person that is in such desperation that he or she cannot see any other way out except for suicide - has turned his or her back on humility.

A humble person will accept conditions and situations that would bring an un-humble person to despair to such an extreme as to reject any help, any choice any other contingent other than suicide.

Despair is the opposite of humility.

I tried committing suicide twice and failed twice. What do you know about suicide? Have you ever been there? What is your expertise? Your lofty opinion of yourself? What you write above is the opposite of humility. Its to be disregarded because there is no truth in what you say.

You’re a monster for attacking someone in despair.

 

[chazcheh]

I tried committing suicide twice and failed twice. What do you know about suicide? Have you ever been there? What is your expertise? Your lofty opinion of yourself? What you write above is the opposite of humility. Its to be disregarded because there is no truth in what you say.

You’re a monster for attacking someone in despair.

I remember there were 2 funerals for 2 men from our parish who committed suicide in the same week. It was a terrible ordeal for the families involved and cant imaging what life could have been like for the two that took their own lives. I remember the priest saying that it was a terrible terrible tragedy for these 2 men to consider taking their own lives as the only resort to what ever ordeals they were encountering. I think the more we understand about the human brain and mind the more we are about to understand why psychologically a person would want to go down that road, as you cant judge what state of mind that person may have been in when they committed this act.

For those who are thinking of taking their own lives, I will pray for you, and I ask that you pray for yourself. If you can go speak to your local parish priest and get some counselling. I cant imagine what you may be going through to go against the strongest will we have - staying alive.
As a child of God, I love you.

 

[MonjaFutura]

We don’t necessarily have to do God’s Will because we have free will. Therefore I would say that, like every other sin, suicide isn’t God’s Will, it’s man’s choice. While I’ve never wanted to commit suicide because it’s such a permanent end, something so irreversible, I do admit that sometimes I have wanted a way out and some people think that suicide is the way out. Suicide is a temptation of the devil and for some it’s too strong to resist because Satan knows how to get into your mind and make you remember everything that would lead you to suicide. I sympathize with everyone who has been tempted by suicide. We have to pray for these souls! And depression has nothing to do with humility or anything about your spirituality.

 

[tonyrey]

But how do we explain suicides if “we don’t create our own destiny”? Can we explain that it was God’s purpose for that person to kill him/herself?

Kate, it is impossible to know to what extent those who commit suicide are responsible for their decision. There is a limit to the amount of stress any of us can endure. What we do know is that in normal circumstances individuals do not kill themselves unless they are mentally unbalanced or they believe life is not worth living.
Providence does not guarantee that **everyone **is capable of being reasonable all the time!

 

[willofgods]

For anyone who has suffered suicide loss, or is thinking of suicide/harming themselves can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 24 hours/day, 366 days/year (in the USA or I think on Skype outside of the US it works too):

1-800-273-TALK

Remember, an overwhelming amount of suicides are accompanied by mental illness, i.e., full consent may not be present for this sin and that of despair to be mortal…there is a whole entry on Suicide in the CCC; here is part of it:

Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide.

2283 We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives.