Fear of Dying

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today 

March 17, 2026

Fear of Dying

In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

Luke 22:44 NRSV 

In the last few months friends have died, and others have received cancer diagnoses. As I progress through the aging process, I am trusting in Jesus’ promise: “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places . . .  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3 NRSV). For the Christian, it is not death we fear, our fear is dying. While some may go quietly into the night, and still others die very quickly, for many others, their dying includes illness, pain, dependency and loneliness.

While serving as a pastor, I was present with many, many people as they died. I learned that there is no easy, 1-2-3 formula that makes dying less fearful. I also learned that we tend to die the way we live. Our faith, our life in Christ, makes the journey with us. Those who did not seek the comfort of Christ, and of scripture during their lives, seldom look for Christ in their final days. For those taking the road less traveled, and who are seeking to make the life in Christ their way of life, I can offer an assurance for the certain time when we face our own dying.

Always, always, always remember you are not alone! As Saint Luke so eloquently observed, Jesus was overwrought at the prospect of his own dying. Remember, Jesus faced the same trials we do. (Hebrews 4:15) Also, remember that as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Father sent angels to comfort him in his time of trial. (Luke 22:43) Those same angels also comforted Jesus during his wilderness experience. (Matthew 2:19-21) Because you are an heir of God, a joint heir with Jesus, you can rightfully expect the Father’s angels to come and comfort you in your hour of need.

My Takeaway: And remember always the profound truth of Psalm 23:4 (KJV, Emphasis mine.)

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil:

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2026 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.