Suicide is something that seems to be in the news more these days. Whether it's the pressures of life and our world, causing people to be in despair and depressed, or the vicious verbal and emotional attacks of a peer group on an impressionable young person, suicide is a reality of our culture. And believers aren't exempt from such feelings and conditions.

In some ways, we can understand your friend's frustration with life and his longing to go to heaven. Actually, that's a good thing! We should long for the time when we will spend eternity with Jesus. On the other hand, there's nothing in Scripture that would support any idea that suicide is the way to get there.

Having said that, we want to also assure you and your friend that there's nothing in Scripture to support the position that suicide is an unforgivable sin. If that were the case, then the Bible would have been specific about it. Jesus made it clear that there is only one sin that is unforgivable both in this world and the next: blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

But that's not the issue here. Your friend is struggling with the difficulty of his life, and you want to know how to help him. You might be surprised to know that the Bible gives some accounts of people who didn't want to live. Moses said to God, "I can't carry all these people by myself! The load is too heavy! I'd rather you killed me than treat me like this" (Numbers 11:14-15).

Jonah became angry at God for sparing Ninevah, and told God, "Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live" (Jonah 4:3).

In both of these examples, God heard the desperate cries of despondent people. Rather than abandon them, He met them at their greatest need. God will do the same for your friend if he is honest with God and asks for help.

Anyone having thoughts about suicide needs to realize that it is a trial and a temptation that God can help them through. God understands what your friend is going through, and the best thing you can do is assure him that God will not abandon him. In fact, according to the Scriptures, He will show your friend a way out:

"But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it" (1 Cor. 10:13).

Obviously, if you become concerned that your friend is truly serious about suicide, you should advise him to seek professional counsel. But you can begin to assure him right now that God understands what he is going through.