And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.
1 John 5:14-15, NRSV
One night, a friend send us a message, telling us that a mutual friend just passed away by committing suicide. The friend of ours always appeared to be a successful and joyful person. Their children are well-taught, high-achievers like the parents. In anyone's eyes, this person is a winner. How could someone like this end their life this way? When I heard the news, the first question I asked was if this person is suffering from depression. It turns out that my guessing was correct. Our friend did have depression, and the suicide was executed under the influence of the disorder.
The passing of our friend doesn't seem to agree with the scripture today. If God's promise is true, why do Christians still suffer from depression? I can't, nor anyone in this world can give a definite answer. But there is one thing I know—God is still in control even in tragedies like these. Kay Warren, the co-founder of Saddleback Church in her sharing after their youngest son committed suicide under the influence of mental illness says with conviction about her son's current state that "... in the perfection of heaven, his broken mind was healed. And I'm so grateful for that. And I look forward, I wait for the day when I'll finally see for myself."
Indeed, this is a broken world as a result of sin. But God's promise in Jesus Christ will never fail. Our boldness is based on the resurrection of Christ and the Holy Spirit He gave to all His followers. We know from these facts that our plead for a painless world according to His promise in the Bible will one day come to its completion! He is in control even in the devastation of this broken world, because He will come back again and transform the world into perfection.
Share with your partner a story which God answered your prayer. Pray for each other to have enough faith to trust in His salvation.