Fear of death?

awentz148

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I'll start by saying that I've always had pretty bad anxiety/panic attacks, and I think that's a lot of my issue here. But does anyone else ever get overwhelmingly scared of dying, even as a Christian? I think it's more fear of the unknown - what will it feel like, how will it happen, etc that bothers me. For the past 6 months, since the time my husband got saved, I've been having what I call "unwanted thoughts" that will just pop into my head. It started out as thoughts like, "how can you be sure God is real? Do you really know Jesus was who He said He was?" and things of that nature. I was able to get that under control and now it's started with this fear of death. I'll suddenly think about having to die one day and it's always the same thought, "What if nothing happens after you die?" I've really tried to counter with myself and ask "Okay, if you weren't a Christian what would you believe happened after death?" And I've come to the conclusion that it's either Jesus or nothing for me, and if nothing happens after death I'd never know it, but it still bothers me almost daily and some days it takes a toll on me spiritually.

Sorry for the rambling, but I would really feel comforted to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with this. Thanks in advance! :)
 

seashale76

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I'll start by saying that I've always had pretty bad anxiety/panic attacks, and I think that's a lot of my issue here. But does anyone else ever get overwhelmingly scared of dying, even as a Christian? I think it's more fear of the unknown - what will it feel like, how will it happen, etc that bothers me. For the past 6 months, since the time my husband got saved, I've been having what I call "unwanted thoughts" that will just pop into my head. It started out as thoughts like, "how can you be sure God is real? Do you really know Jesus was who He said He was?" and things of that nature. I was able to get that under control and now it's started with this fear of death. I'll suddenly think about having to die one day and it's always the same thought, "What if nothing happens after you die?" I've really tried to counter with myself and ask "Okay, if you weren't a Christian what would you believe happened after death?" And I've come to the conclusion that it's either Jesus or nothing for me, and if nothing happens after death I'd never know it, but it still bothers me almost daily and some days it takes a toll on me spiritually.

Sorry for the rambling, but I would really feel comforted to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with this. Thanks in advance! :)
You are not the only one that has struggled with this type of thing. This topic has come up quite a bit over the years around here. Forgive me for using an older post of mine instead of coming up with something new and fresh.

In Orthodox Christianity we call such unwanted thoughts logismoi (tempting thoughts which lead to sin). The Church Fathers tend to recognize five stages:

assault (thoughts pop into your head)
interaction (you entertain these thoughts)
consent (you decide to act on these thoughts)
defeat (you are hostage- resistance is difficult)
passion (it becomes part of you)

The usual recommended practice is to pray when the thoughts first pop into your head. Ignore the thoughts if possible and keep turning your mind and heart back to prayer. It is easiest to stop at this point.

Most people will say the Jesus Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
 
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Winken

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The song says "trust and never doubt, He will surely lead you out." That is sometimes hard to do. However, for the Believer, doubting does not lead to being "unsaved."

As stated in Post #2, turn to Him the moment stuff like this pops into your head. Turn over to 1 John 1:9. Memorize that.
 
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awentz148

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You are not the only one that has struggled with this type of thing. This topic has come up quite a bit over the years around here. Forgive me for using an older post of mine instead of coming up with something new and fresh.

In Orthodox Christianity we call such unwanted thoughts logismoi (tempting thoughts which lead to sin). The Church Fathers tend to recognize five stages:

assault (thoughts pop into your head)
interaction (you entertain these thoughts)
consent (you decide to act on these thoughts)
defeat (you are hostage- resistance is difficult)
passion (it becomes part of you)

The usual recommended practice is to pray when the thoughts first pop into your head. Ignore the thoughts if possible and keep turning your mind and heart back to prayer. It is easiest to stop at this point.

Most people will say the Jesus Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.


Thank you for your reply. I knew that prayer was the best way to overcome these thoughts and fears, but didn't really have a plan as far as going about said prayer.
 
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Winken

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"Thank You, God, that when I confessed Jesus as my Savior I was born again. I entered into new life in Him. Thank You, Father, for prayers that come to me through your Divine guidance. Thank You that Your Holy Spirit is forever within me. Thank You, Lord, that I am never alone. Thank You that You will never leave me or forsake me. In the Precious Name of Jesus I pray, Amen."
 
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CrystalDragon

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I'll start by saying that I've always had pretty bad anxiety/panic attacks, and I think that's a lot of my issue here. But does anyone else ever get overwhelmingly scared of dying, even as a Christian? I think it's more fear of the unknown - what will it feel like, how will it happen, etc that bothers me. For the past 6 months, since the time my husband got saved, I've been having what I call "unwanted thoughts" that will just pop into my head. It started out as thoughts like, "how can you be sure God is real? Do you really know Jesus was who He said He was?" and things of that nature. I was able to get that under control and now it's started with this fear of death. I'll suddenly think about having to die one day and it's always the same thought, "What if nothing happens after you die?" I've really tried to counter with myself and ask "Okay, if you weren't a Christian what would you believe happened after death?" And I've come to the conclusion that it's either Jesus or nothing for me, and if nothing happens after death I'd never know it, but it still bothers me almost daily and some days it takes a toll on me spiritually.

Sorry for the rambling, but I would really feel comforted to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with this. Thanks in advance! :)


You are definitely not alone there, I feel the same way.
 
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faroukfarouk

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You are definitely not alone there, I feel the same way.
Hebrews 2.15 says that the Lord Jesus came to 'deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.'
 
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FireDragon76

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A week ago I woke up just feeling disoriented. It was the day after I was received into the Lutheran church. the next morning, I had the same thing happen. Fuzzy headed feeling and full of doubts. The thoughts in my head were always about doubting what I had done.

I've also had panic attacks too, in the past.
 
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Everybodyknows

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I'll start by saying that I've always had pretty bad anxiety/panic attacks, and I think that's a lot of my issue here. But does anyone else ever get overwhelmingly scared of dying, even as a Christian?
Yes, I also suffer anxiety. Anxiety triggers fear of death, it's a natural physiological response designed to protect us in threatening situations. Anxiety triggers a cascade of hormonal and chemical responses in the brain, putting us in a state of hyperarousal, preparing us for a fight or flight response. Fear of death is not some failure on your part but rather just a natural physiological symptom.

I find my fear of death is much worse at my anxious times. I also differentiate fear of dying from fear of death. Fear of dying is normal and hardwired into every creature that has a nervous system. It's ok to fear dying. Death is the state we enter after dying and I'm not nearly so fearful of that as the process of getting there.

"What if nothing happens after you die?" I've really tried to counter with myself and ask "Okay, if you weren't a Christian what would you believe happened after death?" And I've come to the conclusion that it's either Jesus or nothing for me, and if nothing happens after death I'd never know it, but it still bothers me almost daily and some days it takes a toll on me spiritually
My thinking is petty much the same. If there is nothing after death then I'll never know so I try not to worry about it.

Don't be too hard on yourself, worrying about fearing death will just fuel your anxiety cycle. Just accept that a degree of fear of death is normal and ok. If we obsess over it then we aren't really living. Living well is much more important than how it ends.
 
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Its the old devil satan saying 'did God really say..' just counter it by saying 'shut up satan, the truth is christians are born again in the resurrection but you are going to be burned to a crisp in Hell and Im not going down with you, so take a hike'
 
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DiscipleHeLovesToo

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doubts come by focus on reports that don't agree with God's report; no doubt that's why He tells us this:

Jos 1:8 KJV
(8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

the more you focus on God's word instead of what the world says, the less you will fear physical death (whether sudden or drawn out over time)

Deu 28:1-68 KJV
(1) And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
(2) And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
(3) Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
(4) Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
(5) Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
(6) Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
(7) The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
(8) The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
(9) The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
(10) And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.
(11) And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
(12) The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
(13) And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
(14) And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
(15) But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
(16) Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.
(17) Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.
(18) Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
(19) Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
(20) The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
(21) The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.
(22) The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
(23) And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
(24) The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
(25) The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.
(26) And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.
(27) The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.
(28) The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:
(29) And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.
(30) Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.
(31) Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them.
(32) Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long: and there shall be no might in thine hand.
(33) The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:
(34) So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
(35) The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.
(36) The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.
(37) And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.
(38) Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.
(39) Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.
(40) Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.
(41) Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.
(42) All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.
(43) The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.
(44) He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.
(45) Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:
(46) And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.
(47) Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
(48) Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
(49) The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;
(50) A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:
(51) And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.
(52) And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.
(53) And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:
(54) So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:
(55) So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.
(56) The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,
(57) And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.
(58) If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;
(59) Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.
(60) Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.
(61) Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
(62) And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.
(63) And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.
(64) And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.
(65) And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:
(66) And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:
(67) In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
(68) And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.

Gal 3:1-14 KJV
(1) O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
(2) This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
(3) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
(4) Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
(5) He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
(6) Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
(7) Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
(8) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
(9) So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
(10) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
(11) But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
(12) And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
(13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
(14) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

since Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law (Deu 28:15-68), and we receive that redemption through faith in His works (rather than our own) and His words of life - and as a free gift - the more we meditate on His words, the less we will fear
 
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gym_class_hero

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when these thoughts come in your mind, turn to Scripture.

Philippians 4:8King James Version (KJV)

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things

my wife struggled with doubts of her salvation for years. Generally these doubts were more prevalent when she wasn't actively pursuing her faith. In the end you have to make a conscious decision..is God a liar or not? You cant ride on emotions, because they change.

I pray that you can find the peace and joy that only God provides.
 
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miknik5

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when these thoughts come in your mind, turn to Scripture.

Philippians 4:8King James Version (KJV)

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things

my wife struggled with doubts of her salvation for years. Generally these doubts were more prevalent when she wasn't actively pursuing her faith. In the end you have to make a conscious decision..is God a liar or not? You cant ride on emotions, because they change.

I pray that you can find the peace and joy that only God provides.
yes

Philippians 4
 
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I'll start by saying that I've always had pretty bad anxiety/panic attacks, and I think that's a lot of my issue here. But does anyone else ever get overwhelmingly scared of dying, even as a Christian? I think it's more fear of the unknown - what will it feel like, how will it happen, etc that bothers me. For the past 6 months, since the time my husband got saved, I've been having what I call "unwanted thoughts" that will just pop into my head. It started out as thoughts like, "how can you be sure God is real? Do you really know Jesus was who He said He was?" and things of that nature. I was able to get that under control and now it's started with this fear of death. I'll suddenly think about having to die one day and it's always the same thought, "What if nothing happens after you die?" I've really tried to counter with myself and ask "Okay, if you weren't a Christian what would you believe happened after death?" And I've come to the conclusion that it's either Jesus or nothing for me, and if nothing happens after death I'd never know it, but it still bothers me almost daily and some days it takes a toll on me spiritually.

Sorry for the rambling, but I would really feel comforted to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with this. Thanks in advance! :)

Yes, awentz148, I think about the fact that I'll die just about every other day or so. In fact, a fear of death was one thing that motivated me to check out the Christian faith 30+ years ago. To some extent, I think what you feel is normal and something many, even if not all, are bothered by. It's also one reason Jesus shared in our humanity--so we could see that He commiserates with us on our level, yet at the same time, reaches out to us so we can transcend our mortality by holding onto HIM. (see Hebrews 2:14-15)

It's ok to feel that way, brother! :cool:

Peace,
2PhiloVoid
 
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