The Fear?
In my Heartlight.org article today, I continue some thoughts on the 7 sayings of Jesus on the Cross. The focus this week is on the saying, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Does believing Jesus help you as you face the reality of death in your life or the life of someone you love?
Death is described in Scripture as a fear that dominated human beings for generation upon generation. Do you think we fear death today?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this matter
My fear is hindering all that God has called me to do. below is something I wrote just recently and it was much in line with what this mornings devotional was about, with only a few revisions and a scripture added:
I can to only look back to find and use the wisdom I have gained from lessons learned, and to cherish the special moments I was blessed to have. That is not always so easy and I wish I could do better. I often grieve and long for paradise.
What really matters to me is to fulfill my purpose here, and to give much more than I take. I am cursed with my humaness, so I learned long ago to call on a greater strength. That still doesn’t make me a super hero, but it’s helped me get through this time. I met Jesus when I was 4 years old after coming back from my drugged up parents room all alone in the middle of the night, fearing the nightmare of a dark creature would meet me in my room. It was only then that I met a glowing Angelic being to tuck me in and calm me to sleep. I couldn’t even see his face because of the great light, and the peace that I found in his presence was so reassuring that I didn’t need to know anything. I was safe. That is what I needed to know. I continued to face many terrible trials in my life. I wondered why I was even brought into (time) existence. I have many scars and even today as blessed as I am, I struggle and need His grace to carry on. I am often in great pain, but so far nothing has befalled me, nor threatens to send me home.
I am in my 30’s, with children 15 and under. I feel guilty for the weariness I feel at times, and how selfish I feel for this longing I have to be with Jesus. I feel that my family deserves better.
I wanted to be more in this life. To do more with the time I have here. I want to help all the little girls and boys that suffered as I did. I am so tired of this life being about ME! I am still trying to make a difference, and I believe strongly that we should make every day count. I try so hard to be all that I should be and to rely on my Saviour. What do I do when I experience the weight of my failures? I pray, read the Bible, sing, sometimes I even dance, I write, I read some more, and on the rarest of occassions I share my point of view. I try to forgive myself &
I long for the day that I finally see Him face to face.
I am living for eternity. I’ve tried so hard to do everything right. I don’t understand why things are the way they are, but in those times of suffering when I want to just through in the towel, I remind myself that I have a greater purpose. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I remind myself that in the scheme of things, we are only here for a speck of time in the vast length of all eternity. It doesn’t always feel like it, but my time here is so very short. I thank Him for the strength to make it through each day and for all the blessings I am given along the way.
In closing I would have to say that I fear ME. That monster in the closet has become someone I can’t run away fromm ME. I feel haunted by my failures here. I believe in God’s favor and provisions, but somehow I am successful in few endeavors in life that I whole heartedly believe in. I find myself saying, did i miss it? Is this what I was called to do? to be? Will my mistakes keep me from fulfilling my calling? Am I really seeking Him with a whole heart? Will I have enough talents to show Him that I wisely invested in what He gave?
Oh, I pray that I do not disappoint Him!
Please help me Jesus. Please don’t let me disappoint you.
Phil 1
19 for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
I would most appreciate your prayers for my family. May he bless all who read until we meet Him!
Priceless Child of God
14 Jul 08 at 5:00 am
I have many fears, that overcome me, despite commen sense…. like fear of dogs or fear of lying in bed with my back to the door….. and many more
I suspect all my fears originate from my early childhood as I was born into a family where there was sexual abuse, which gave an atmosphere of uncleansiness/impurity and threath/fear.
A a baby you don’t get memories of thoughts but memories of feelings.
I think it would help if I could go back in hypnoses to deal with those wounds deep in my soul, but as a christian I am weary of hypnoses.
Is there any way how I can be healed from such fear-impact in my soul other than hypnoses.
It doesn’t help to tell myself that I don’t have to be afraid because of what Jesus did and said or beacause He is with me. It doesn’t reach that most innerpart somehow.
It prevents me from standing in His peace and freedom.
Does anyone now what to do?
Gina
14 Jul 08 at 6:00 am
Correction
I fear that I will mess up, or somehow hinder all that God has called me to do.
Priceless Child of God
14 Jul 08 at 6:18 am
Personally I fear death and am haunted by it several times a week when I am alone - especially during the nighttime hours or when I am alone during the days when my husband is working. The times when my pain levels are really high I almost wish to die to be able to escape the pain that has overtaken my body for the last 10 years+ but only God knows the day and the hour when He chooses to call us home. This devotion really hit the nail on the head when it stated that it is more the process of dying that causes me the fear - not the actual dying itself, as I know that Jesus is waiting on the other side. That is the part that makes dying a peaceful thought sometimes. I know sometimes I actually hear myself whispering “God take me home” and then other times, and most often “God give me strength”. I think most often He responds to the latter as I am still here.
I recall when my own dad was on the death bed, I never wanted him to leave this world. As selfish as it sounds, I wish he were still here today so that I could talk with him about all that is going on in my lift and he could give me that good old “dad advice” that I would now treasure, but did not think was always all that great back in the day. Dad passed away with cancer, but I know he is in heaven with Jesus now and no longer suffering. My brother just passed away two years ago at the young age of 50 - a heart attack. Too young, I feel. That still haunts me. Why, I ask. Did he know that he was dying? Did he feel death? He was alone when he died at home that night as he was a bachelor and we found him two days later. Did he feel fear? Did God give him special care? Too many questions - no answers. My heart still aches. Why … Death is something I don’t understand, really - but sometimes when the pain is unbearable, I find myself almost wishing for it. Sounds like a double-edged sword to me … and almost like something that should not be coming out of the mouth of a christian. God give me strength for yet another day … if that is your will.
Sunshine
14 Jul 08 at 6:48 am
I think we would agree when I say,
“What comfort is there, except to be near to Him. Unless, I am sleeping: And when I am sleeping, It is only to dream that I am nearer.”
Alysson Best 7/14/08
princessbride
14 Jul 08 at 7:32 am
Hi Gina,
I can tell you from peronal experience hypnosis is not a good thing. That was 18 years ago, as a teen and it only brought on more fears and torment.
I have a story that I share with children on a fear that I overcame with the word of God. See hoe Jesus battled:
Matthew 4
The Temptation of Jesus
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6″If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
” ‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
7Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.
8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9″All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.
11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
I started quoting the scriptures and I refused to feed my tormenting fears like you are experiencing. For example, I quit looking behind the shower curtain eery time I visited the rest room to make sure that noone was hiding behind it. I mastered the shower curtain and a couple more. Now, I’m in a different area of this great battle. You are not alone.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
God bless you. Pray for me and I will pray for you.
princessbride
14 Jul 08 at 8:51 am
I had wonderful Bible class teachers as a child. Those teachers - and my father made Christ so real that separation from this life holds no fear for me. But the second death - separation for all eternity from God fills me with GREAT fear - not for myself, but those I love.
This reality drilled into me as a youth has made spiritual death so real it has kept me on the path to God - that is the reason I don’t fear the second death for myself (not because I think I am so “good”).
That same reality fills me with grief for “spiritual death” that most people feel when a loved one dies a physical death. My father was a GREAT Christian - the best I have ever know. But he allowed worries of this life to separate him from God and for the last 2 years of his life was a changed man. When he died I went through a depression for 2 years - not because he died a physical death, but because he died with his back to God.
That experience brought me to the answer for this fear - in heaven there will be no more tears. Here I will grieve for my loved ones who leave God - or who never find Him. But there “God will wipe away all tears.” Satan has used my fear to attack me through my husband (who thankfully came back to God) and my two sons. But it has also given me a “fire” to tell people about Christ (even though I was born a “people pleaser” and this used to be very difficult for me).
There is no fear that heaven cannot cure.
Linda Hoeck
14 Jul 08 at 12:43 pm
HI Phil,
Today’s Heartlight hit me where I’m the most susceptible because I have had an intense fear of death since childhood even though I am a believer. I have anxiety attacks over it & pray for acceptance….
Kat
Kat
14 Jul 08 at 1:10 pm
I think people fear death because they may not be ready to end their life on earth…they have more they want to do. But, those that are saved know where they are going after they die and they find assurance and comfort in that. I know I have things I want to accomplish on this earth before going heaven. And, I know God will give me the time to do them if that’s in His plan for me.
Kimberly
14 Jul 08 at 1:48 pm
Hi Phil,
I just recently lost my husband,best friend and soul mate to cancer.He went to be with Jesus on July 14th of this year and I was devastated.You talk about fear, he had no insurance and they took his social security away from me, here I was alone and no income except for a small pension. Life seemed hopeless.He was 59 years young and August the 2nd we would have been married 40 years. God blessed us with two sons and they have been such a help to me. I did not want to leave our home and thought that there was no other way.I spent days crying and trying to figure out what I should do.I could not take it anymore and all I wanted to do was to die and be with my husband again.I was on my knees in my closet crying and praying to the Lord to please take me home,but as you can see he did not. I knew that I could never take my own life because I don’t believe that I would go to heaven and I wasn’t taking any chances on not being able to be with the lord and my loved ones in heaven. After I had a long talk with God and he calmed me down I came out of my closet feeling at peace and knowing that God was in complete control of my life.He has a plan for me and only he can see where I am heading, I am only to love, obey and trust in him. My husband is out of pain now but it is very hard without him being by my side,I love him so much.God is giving me strentgh that I never thought I could have. He is right here by my side.He will never leave or forsake me and I stand on his promise.I have a long hard road ahead of me but God is providing all that I need. I am able to keep our home and with God working through other people he is taking care of me.I thank him for every day that he gives me here to do whatever it is he has planned for me .My husband has a plaque that is on our fireplace and when I get feeling afraid I read it,it says “BE STILL AND KNOW I AM GOD” That is what I am doing.Please pray for me and my family as I will all of you.BE BLESSED!
A FRIEND IN CHRIST
MARY
MARY
14 Jul 08 at 3:04 pm
Very powerful readings from different ones who wrote above .
I often wish I were with my husbands and children then there are times that No I am not quite ready to leave this earth as there are so many things one can enjoy or be involved in,
It is hard for me to not question why did my many losses happened or what did I do . Of course I know it was not my faulbt , then there are times I tell myself God is letting me here on earth to enjoy this time just for me after all the caring I did for my love ones .
Maybe this thinking is selfesh but it has helped me to accept Gods will most of the time.
I am a christian and Love god so do trust he does know what is best for me because he loves me no matter what.
Blessings and Love to all Betty
Betty R Aikens
14 Jul 08 at 5:29 pm
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10
The Lord said do not be afraid 365 times in the Bible. So why should we be afraid? However I believe that anxiety is a by product of fear. But God also said this:
” Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Phillipians 4:6-7
As Christians, following Jesus, we should learn to submit ourselves in prayer and in perseverance. Trusting Him in His ways because our ways may seem sensible but for the short-term, just as sin seems pleasing for a while but we all know that road leads to death, so that is why God’s ways are looking at the big picture for our overall benefit.
Salvation is truly a miracle from God which opens THE door to our reunion with our eternal Father, only through His Son Jesus. Coming from a Muslim background, death was a major fear, because salvation was not guaranteed or I did not know what was going to happen to me therefore i tried to lay up as many treasures and accomplishments I could possibly have or do. I feared the worst, which was going to end up being a failure and in hell. But the greatest news to me was finding out that the perspective of God I knew was false, and that Jesus was the One truth who showed me THE way to the One Father who loves me and gave His Son who died for me! I am still learning to trust in Him and His ways. Fear is what holds us back from the promises of God. Acknowledging that we have a guaranteed promise of paradise, death is minuscule fear compared to the infinite time we will be spending with our Creator. God wants us to trust in Him, because He has plans for us. Each having his own talents according the members of His Body, Him being Christ.
The Lord says:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 29:11-14
Living for the glory of God should be our main reason, in that who cannot be satisfied and why shall we fear? He is with us in everything we do. In order to do that, the Lord has plans for each and everyone of us!
In Jesus name, Amen!
narbig
14 Jul 08 at 5:35 pm
Call me weird, but I think the process of aging has been fascinating with its white hair and wrinkles. I think I’ll find the whole death process equally interesting when the time comes. I hope it doesn’t hurt but I’ve left that up to God, however He figures on taking me. Death doesn’t frighten me in the least. Dying? Well, I’m a little nervous because no one likes to suffer, but the closer it gets in my life, the more thought I give to what it’ll actually be like. I do know one thing for sure … Jesus will be there so how can I be afraid?
xeridot
14 Jul 08 at 8:51 pm
The fear that I have at times is, if I had died before knowing Jesus as my Saviour. I thank God for His promise that He will never leave us. Sin Has brought fear into ouy lives, but Christ died so that we can cast out all fears, as we put our trut and cofidence in Him. May all of us who are christians, live through this lively hope.
Charles
Charles
15 Jul 08 at 3:03 am
I feel guilty and ashamed to feel the way I do, but I am so weary that the desire to die exceeds the fear of death. God forgive me and help me get through today. And my hustband forgive me if I don’t.
a friend
15 Jul 08 at 7:18 pm
Hi Friend,
I understand how you feel.Sometimes I feel guilty also, because I would rather be with my husband and the Lord.When my husband passed away in June of this year, I wanted to die and at the time it didn’t matter to me about the people that I would be leaving behind, like my two sons,their wives and my 4 beautiful grand children.I was in so much pain I could not even imagine living the rest my life without my soul mate of 40 years. Then I started thinking about how much my family really needed me here and how devastating it would be for them to loose me so close to loosing their dad and paw-paw.At that point I stopped thinking about me and decided to start thinking about my family and how I could be here to help them in their walk with the Lord.I can’t bring my husband back but I can help other family members to be with him again someday by sharing God’s love and word with them. I will just have to wait for the lord to take me home, I believe that he knows the exact time and way that will happen.I will have to be patient and keep my focus on him.Thanks and may God Bless!
MARY
MARY
18 Jul 08 at 4:41 pm
I sure as heck fear it.
Greetings, Mr. Ware. I heard about your ministry from a fellow on LiveJournal who was once involved in the furry fandom. He still calls himself “The White Otter”, and still posts your daily devotionals to his LiveJournal. And I still enjoy them.
I have reached the part of life where the years sort of go careening by with no brakes, and I know the end is coming soon. I had hoped to be raptured by now, but now I’m starting to wonder if I’m going to go by the death router. It makes me kind of nervous.
George R. Eddy
20 Jul 08 at 7:14 pm