"I'm terrified of the dying process—the pain, the suffocation, the loss of control—and God won't help me."
How it sounds in your head: I've watched others die and it looked horrible. Gasping for air. Crying out in pain. Losing their minds. Terrified and alone even with people in the room. I'm afraid I'll die the same way and God will just watch it happen. What if my last moments are agony?
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are WITH me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
-- Psalm 23:4Spirit of fear projecting worst-case scenarios and erasing God's presence from the valley of the shadow of death.
The fear IS primal, death IS the ultimate unknown, and witnessing difficult deaths creates traumatic mental images that feel like prophecy.
Stephen was being murdered—rocks crushing his skull—and instead of agony and terror, he SAW heaven open, Jesus standing, and he peacefully said 'Lord, receive my spirit' and 'fell asleep.' Violent death—supernatural peace. God didn't prevent the stones but flooded him with glory.
I REFUSE the lie that I will die in terror and agony. IT IS WRITTEN that though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear NO evil, for He is WITH me. God has not given me a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a SOUND MIND. IT IS WRITTEN that absent from the body is present with the Lord—my last breath here is my first breath THERE. Stephen saw heaven OPEN while being murdered. Lazarus was carried by angels to Abraham's bosom. I am covered by the BARAK blessing—the covenant that sent TERROR on Israel's enemies to protect them. Perfect love casts out fear. My crossing will be a HOMECOMING, not a horror. Jesus Himself will meet me in the valley—I will not walk it alone.
The Father is NOT leaving you to white-knuckle your way through death. He's already IN the valley, arms open, light blazing, singing over you 'Well done—come HOME, beloved.' The moment you step through, you'll wonder why you were ever afraid.