Pain surrounds us in this world, and for those in Christ, the exact opposite awaits us after we die. Is it sinful to want to die and be with Jesus? Is it sinful to desire death as an escape from the pain of this world and as an escape from the pain caused by our own sinfulness? Marissa, a listener to the podcast, is brave enough to ask it. “Dear Pastor John, is it a sin to long to go home? I’m 31 years old, and my life is ruined. I dread the rest of my life. Because of sin, I have lost everyone I love most (and I mean everyone). I feel like my very poor choices can’t be redeemed while here on earth, even though I have repented and confessed my sins. I am terrified of what awaits me, including having to remain single until I die because of an ensuing divorce (that I don’t want but did cause), and never having the blessing of forming a family. Is it a sin to want to go home and be with Jesus? Your teachings are among the few things that keep me going.” Pastor John, what would you say to Marissa? Episode 1342: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/is-it-sinful-to-want-to-die Related Resources: “How Does the Gospel Speak to Self-Hate?” https://youtu.be/cZpRqMa9UfU “Should We Expect Revival or More Social Decay?” https://youtu.be/YTHW-4Kt-2g “Will We Meet Jesus as Soon as We Die?” https://youtu.be/AvnGL1FCAWY “How Do I Overcome My Fear of Death?” https://youtu.be/Q9HsSoOZERk Ask Pastor John Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFF7F6AE365DA3564 Find other recent and popular Ask Pastor John episodes, http://desiringgod.org/ask-pastor-john