Though Jonah is famous for his fish, he also provides an illuminating case study of depression and suicidal thought. This Bible study and accompanying article provide a guide to the Scriptural portrait of despair shown in Jonah’s story.
Jonah struggles mightily with forgiveness; in fact, his refusal to forgive the Ninevites is the cause of his despair, the root of why he wishes to die! Yet in this story, God shows us the cure: to forgive again, and again, and again. Refusing to forgive only breeds resentment and depression, and sometimes it could even lead to suicide. But forgiving as Christ forgave us will make us more grace-filled, whole and emotionally healthy.
Martin Luther once wrote: “Without trials ... a person can know neither Scripture nor faith, nor can he fear and love God. If he has never suffered, he cannot understand what hope is.”
How Long?
We ask, “How long will you defend the unjust, O God, and show favor to the wicked?” God points to the cross and ...
Ethics and Suffering
How are Christians to respond to this shift in the ethics of medicine today? The path that seems most appropriate ...
