I know the feeling.  Because this has been me.  For years.  I remember being horribly embarrassed to admit to my parents that death was one of my biggest fears.  I’d heard in sermon after sermon about how believing in Christ meant we no longer had to fear death—but I never heard a sermon about what to do if I was a Christian who still feared death.  Or what to do with my fear.  Honestly, there were points in my life where I wondered if this fear of mine meant I wasn’t really saved.  So, if you can relate to all of this, then this is for you. <3

First of all, I want to address the am I really saved question.  Here’s the answer: if you’ve confessed your sin to the Lord and surrendered to Jesus as the Lord of your life, then you are saved (See Romans 10:9-10). 

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. John 10:27-29

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Regardless of what your emotions may say from day to day, you have made the decision to follow the Lord, and nothing can separate you from Him.  (Another evidence of salvation that you can look for in your life is the fruit of the Spirit being produced in you.)

Now, to address the fear of death part…

1: It is human to fear death.  We weren’t created to die; death is a result of the fall of man and of sin (see Genesis 3).  To fear death is to recognize that we were created for something more, for eternity. 

2: Cry out to God with your fears.  David feared death—read the psalms.  It’s full of verses talking about death and running from the enemy and crying out to God to be delivered from fear.  But what did David do with his fears?  He took them to God.  “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You” (Ps. 56:3).

So what do we do when the fear of death arises?

1: Put your trust in God’s promises.  Remember what Scripture has to say about death, about God’s loving care for His children, and about eternity.  Something helpful for me to remind myself is that God is my loving Father, and He will not allow me to pass away before His good timing. 

2: Be pro-life now.  Love life, and live life to the full for God’s glory.  Make the most of your time (see Eph. 5).  Enjoy the journey with God.

3: Remember that God will be with you in the valley of death (Ps. 23).  He will give you the strength you need when that time comes.  Until then, you can rest in living for God’s glory today.  That is enough.  Remember that if we live, we are the Lord’s, and if we die, we are the Lord’s (Rom. 14:8).  And right now, He’s called you to live.  Don’t waste your life wondering about what-ifs. And when what-ifs arise, combat them with the promises of God’s word. 

So, to the Christian who’s been afraid of death, you’re not alone.  You’re not a “bad Christian” for having fears; you’re just as much a sinner as the Christian who doesn’t fear death, and that just means that we need God’s grace.  In our own strength, we fall worse than short of God’s glory and holiness.  That is why we need Jesus.  That is why we rely on His grace and Holy Spirit to live this Christian life, and that includes handling our fears.  So, take your fears to Him; He already knows you have them, and He’s ready to be your strength in your weakness.  God will be with you through every step of the journey in this life, and for all eternity.  Trust in Him. 

With love,

Kelsey