Overcoming a Fear of Mortality: Finding Support for Death Anxiety

Fear of mortality, also known as death anxiety, is a fear of the end of life. Many people, including Christians, are afraid of death or suffering as they die. It is one of the most common fears people have.

Aspects of Death That Often Cause Fear of Mortality

Fear of the unknown

Not knowing what dying will feel like, when or how it will come about, and/or what will happen after death.

Fear of pain or suffering

Wondering if death will come suddenly and painlessly, or whether it will be the result of a long, drawn-out terminal illness. The thought of having to suffer can be even more scary than the thought of death itself. Mission Viejo Christian Counseling provides a safe space to process these fears, offering comfort, hope, and spiritual peace in the face of life’s most difficult questions.

Loss of control

Having dreams and goals you haven’t achieved yet, and not being able to control how your life will end or when.

Having to let go of what you have

Being attached to the people and things that bring you joy and not wanting to have to give them up.

Fear of what will happen to those you leave behind

Fear of what will happen to your children and family when you die and how they will manage without you.

Some Things You Can Do to Help Overcome Your Fear of Mortality

• Acknowledge your fear and accept it.
• Take your fear to God in prayer and ask Him to replace it with His peace (Philippians 4:6-7).
• Focus on the good things in your life that you are grateful for .
• When fearful thoughts of death enter your mind, replace them with thoughts of what heaven will be like .
• If you are afraid of suffering before you die, remind yourself that you will not have to face it alone. God has promised to never leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5b). He will be right there with you, giving you the courage and strength to endure, and comforting you with His peace that surpasses understanding (Isaiah 43:2; Philippians 4:7).
• If you have not yet received the gift of salvation and entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, repent of your sins and do it now so you can have the assurance of eternal life (Romans 6:23, 10:9; John 11:25-27).
• Entrust your loved ones to God and trust Him to care for them after you are gone.
• Focus on living each day to its fullest and making the most of what God has blessed you with.

What the Bible Says About Mortality

Death was never part of God’s intended plan for us. We were created to live eternally with Him in a deep, intimate, personal relationship. However, through Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden, death entered the world, and we became separated from God.

This world is not our forever home. (Hebrews 13:14; John 14:1-3). We are in it, but not of it (1 John 2:15-17; Phil 3:20-21).

Though death is inevitable for all of us, it is not the end. When you die, your soul does not cease to exist. It will live forever, either in God’s presence or eternally separated from Him (John 3:16, 36), depending on whether you surrender your life to Jesus Christ and accept God’s gift of salvation through the atoning blood of Jesus on the cross, or whether you reject Him and His offer of grace. The choice is yours.

For those who have trusted in Jesus Christ and entered a personal relationship with Him, a joy-filled destination lies ahead that will be better than anything you can imagine (1 Corinthians 2:9). You have the assurance of spending eternity with Jesus in heaven in a special place He went to prepare for you. A place where there is no more pain, death, or grief, and He, Himself will wipe away every tear (John 14:2; Revelation 21:4).

For the Christian, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. (Philippians 1:21; 2 Corinthians 5:8).

Death is our last enemy. Because of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, those who have a personal relationship with Him can boldly say:

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Cor. 15:55-57, NIV

If you have questions about this article on overcoming the fear of mortality or would like to know more about how to surrender your life to Jesus so you can be reconciled to God and receive the gift of eternal life, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Mission Viejo Christian Counseling in California to connect with one of the faith-based counselors in our online directory.