Listen to Nancy’s answer recorded live on Moody radio.
No! Who doesn’t look forward to the time when we get to go to Heaven?
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:4,5)
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
I believe God is pleased when we by faith believe His word that there is a Heaven to all those who believe in His Son!
However, on the other hand, yes, I believe it is a sin to want to die to escape what God has allowed us to experience. From God’s perspective, when we suffer, we know for sure that God uses it for our, and other’s, good. Suffering is not all about us.
If we as Christians choose to suffer well, meaning that the reason we suffer is to not only be drawn closer to God, but to meet others on our journey who need to learn about Jesus in the midst of their suffering, then through suffering we naturally are made more compassionate and understanding of others when undergoing hard times ourselves. In the end, suffering well gives God the glory!
God’s ways are perfect. Those times when we suffer and believe that we cannot go on living any longer, we need to remember that God is always faithful, kind and loving. He will never allow us to suffer beyond what we can stand.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10).
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).
Finally, to answer the question of whether it is actually sinful to pray to die, It comes down to acknowledging what Paul writes in Romans 14:23, “whatever is not of faith, is sin.” Jesus prayed in the garden before He died, that “not my will but your will be done” (Luke 22:42b).
John 14:15. “If you love me you will keep my commandments.”
God loves life. Praying to God to allow us to die can be sin because in doing so indicates a lack of faith in God’s plan. A better prayer would be “God, you have promised to be with me through all my trials, no matter how painful. I am asking you to ease my suffering or to heal me, whichever brings You the greatest glory. But in all things, not my will but yours be done. Amen.”