The Fear of Dying

Sadly, a distant relation of my wife died last month. We were told it was difficult for him in the last days because he was afraid of going to sleep in case he didn't wake up.

I can understand and identify with this. Several years ago, when I was recovering from an operation, I was overcome with anxiety and had extreme difficulty getting off to sleep. I was afraid I might die or more exactly I was afraid of the feelings involved in dying. The thought of being all alone, totally abandoned, filled me with utter dread. I know that when eventually my time comes, I will be with Jesus for ever, but deep down I feared the process. I was hanging onto control by my finger nails. Father knew what was in my heart of course and slowly over the months, as I looked to Him as never before, as I felt the feelings with Him, He melted this fear away with His love.

Seemingly the Christian walk is full of paradoxes. We have a God-given desire to live life to the full, but are asked to hand our lives over to God, so that we may live. If we have a fear of death or dying, we will have difficulty in yielding to God and living a Holy Spirit controlled life. We will miss out on the abundant life.

When we belong to God, we need not fear death, for Jesus came to set us free from the fear of death. If this is an issue for you, then talk to Jesus about it, rather now than later.

"If you're not ready to die, then you're not ready to live. Make certain of your eternal destiny; then you will be free to serve—devoting your life to what really counts, without fear of death." (Life Application Study Bible notes)

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." Hebrews 2:14-15 New International Version