Amen.Jesus Christ overcame the bonds of death so all who ever lived or will ever live will be resurrected.
Afraid of death
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Bakedpears
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2001 3:00 am
Hi josh. Pray to GOD for understanding and to take that obsession away because just like other worries, we must take it to HIM and leave it there. When you finish praying, thank him for taking away that burden and believe that it was done. GOD can take that away But you have to believe that he can.
Take care. DeeDee.
Take care. DeeDee.
I too have always feared death in quite the same way you appear to. Ever since I was young up until now. I'm 21 currently, and the fear of that is worse for me now more than ever.
I also get thoughts that make me panic over this specific fear. Just the other day I was fretting over thoughts like: "I hope reincarnation doesn't exist, because it would seem a waste to forget everything you once were and experienced." "What if when I die I have to live out my worst fears for eternity?" Also, "If there is a "heavenly" life after death with no fear, hurt, pain, etc.; then how would life NOT be boring."
It is weird for me because I worry about ceasing to exist, but simultaneously will get scared over the fact of living forever after my physical existence. I scare myself way too much these days. :u/
Peace & love.
-Dustin
I also get thoughts that make me panic over this specific fear. Just the other day I was fretting over thoughts like: "I hope reincarnation doesn't exist, because it would seem a waste to forget everything you once were and experienced." "What if when I die I have to live out my worst fears for eternity?" Also, "If there is a "heavenly" life after death with no fear, hurt, pain, etc.; then how would life NOT be boring."
It is weird for me because I worry about ceasing to exist, but simultaneously will get scared over the fact of living forever after my physical existence. I scare myself way too much these days. :u/
Peace & love.
-Dustin
"So if you're careful
You won't get hurt
But if your careful all the time
then what's it worth"
-Cosy Prisons by A-ha
You won't get hurt
But if your careful all the time
then what's it worth"
-Cosy Prisons by A-ha
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Bakedpears
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2001 3:00 am
Great questions, Dustin. You are a real "thinker"!
In the program it says to treat yourself like you would treat a good friend or loved one. Imagine someone you care about comes up to you and tells you about their fear of death or dying. Would you increase that fear by scaring them more or overwhelm them by putting more open-ended questions into their mind? or would you comfort them and say "hey... we've got today so let's make the best of our here and now and do something fun or productive or purposeful." This is how you become a more confident thinker instead of a worrier. The problem is not whether there is an afterlife or not, the problem right now is... you are a worrier! Deal with the task at hand. Be a peaceful thinker. Treat yourself like you would treat a loved one. Can you see what you are doing to yourself? You are in the habit of scaring yourself. Change that and see how much brighter your future looks.
In the program it says to treat yourself like you would treat a good friend or loved one. Imagine someone you care about comes up to you and tells you about their fear of death or dying. Would you increase that fear by scaring them more or overwhelm them by putting more open-ended questions into their mind? or would you comfort them and say "hey... we've got today so let's make the best of our here and now and do something fun or productive or purposeful." This is how you become a more confident thinker instead of a worrier. The problem is not whether there is an afterlife or not, the problem right now is... you are a worrier! Deal with the task at hand. Be a peaceful thinker. Treat yourself like you would treat a loved one. Can you see what you are doing to yourself? You are in the habit of scaring yourself. Change that and see how much brighter your future looks.
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not missing out
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2005 3:00 am
Hey Josh,
I wonder if it is bothering you so much because you can't figure it out. My son has Asperger's which is a mild form of autism. Apparently they struggle with obsessive thoughts. He's still little (6), but I can see him struggle with something similar to what you're saying. He gets the idea of forever in his mind and it really bothers him. He also has a hard time with the concept of infinity. He wants to know what the biggest number in the world is and when I tell him you could count forever and there really is no highest number, he can't stand it! He will cry and get really mad. I think it has something to do with the fact that we really cannot understand forever, or like you're saying things being gone forever. He even says he doesn't want there to be a heaven because he wants there to be an end.
I don't struggle with what you're talking about, I just don't like the thought of leaving my kids without me. I don't want them to suffer. As a Christian, I believe that the day I will die is already determined and I trust that when it happens He will take care of them. When I get panicky I say to myself, "well, if this is it, this is it" and it helps the panic to go away. I know the moment I die will really be a reunion and I'm not scared of that.
I think of the afterlife as one "now" moment. There will be no time, so it's always now. We won't think about things in terms of "ten minutes ago" or "yesterday". That's the time we'll get it. Our brains can only go so far with the concept of time lasting forever, being nothing forever, or numbers going on forever while we're in these bodies. I myself don't think we go away into nothingness, we either have an eternal "now" with God or without him.
On the spiritual side, I would suggest reading just about the life of Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Just what He did and how He was as a person. There's no religion in that. He was very anti-religion. Yes, all the churches and what people have done with God make it all very confusing. But if you narrow it down to just Him, it's very simple and life changing. And He wants to spend forever with you! When I'm really anxious I just think of Him and how He was. He was just perfect and He's not what a lot of people make him out to be!! He loved the unloveable and only went around doing good.
I know my anxiety is psychological in nature and there is also a spiritual aspect to it. I can see how my brain gets stuck and I can recognize the thinking patterns. I know there is a part I deal with psychologically. I also know I have a spiritual side and God can deal with that too. I just read a verse last night, "when my anxious thoughts multiply within me, your consolation brings me joy." or something like that. Psalm 93? It sounds like your situation has a little of both too. You can deal with the obsessive thinking part of it, but every single person has to sometime face their concept of God and life after death.
If you do keep praying, you will find the answer to this. He said you will find him if you seek him with all your heart.
I wonder if it is bothering you so much because you can't figure it out. My son has Asperger's which is a mild form of autism. Apparently they struggle with obsessive thoughts. He's still little (6), but I can see him struggle with something similar to what you're saying. He gets the idea of forever in his mind and it really bothers him. He also has a hard time with the concept of infinity. He wants to know what the biggest number in the world is and when I tell him you could count forever and there really is no highest number, he can't stand it! He will cry and get really mad. I think it has something to do with the fact that we really cannot understand forever, or like you're saying things being gone forever. He even says he doesn't want there to be a heaven because he wants there to be an end.
I don't struggle with what you're talking about, I just don't like the thought of leaving my kids without me. I don't want them to suffer. As a Christian, I believe that the day I will die is already determined and I trust that when it happens He will take care of them. When I get panicky I say to myself, "well, if this is it, this is it" and it helps the panic to go away. I know the moment I die will really be a reunion and I'm not scared of that.
I think of the afterlife as one "now" moment. There will be no time, so it's always now. We won't think about things in terms of "ten minutes ago" or "yesterday". That's the time we'll get it. Our brains can only go so far with the concept of time lasting forever, being nothing forever, or numbers going on forever while we're in these bodies. I myself don't think we go away into nothingness, we either have an eternal "now" with God or without him.
On the spiritual side, I would suggest reading just about the life of Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Just what He did and how He was as a person. There's no religion in that. He was very anti-religion. Yes, all the churches and what people have done with God make it all very confusing. But if you narrow it down to just Him, it's very simple and life changing. And He wants to spend forever with you! When I'm really anxious I just think of Him and how He was. He was just perfect and He's not what a lot of people make him out to be!! He loved the unloveable and only went around doing good.
I know my anxiety is psychological in nature and there is also a spiritual aspect to it. I can see how my brain gets stuck and I can recognize the thinking patterns. I know there is a part I deal with psychologically. I also know I have a spiritual side and God can deal with that too. I just read a verse last night, "when my anxious thoughts multiply within me, your consolation brings me joy." or something like that. Psalm 93? It sounds like your situation has a little of both too. You can deal with the obsessive thinking part of it, but every single person has to sometime face their concept of God and life after death.
If you do keep praying, you will find the answer to this. He said you will find him if you seek him with all your heart.
Hi Josh,
I can't believe you were able to put into words what i have been feeling for years, and been unable to explain it, without sounding weird. Thank you. I too have worried about the nothingness, and whats the point of striving for things, don't get me wrong i am not suicidal at all. I too have tried searching out religion, which at times makes me feel empty and more confused, as i seem to question everything. I do not believe i am an atheiest. I do believe in God. I would just like to experience the peace and certainty that a lot of people who have religion seem to have.When you find out something that works, please share it. Thank you for making me not feel so alone in these thoughts.
Shelley
I can't believe you were able to put into words what i have been feeling for years, and been unable to explain it, without sounding weird. Thank you. I too have worried about the nothingness, and whats the point of striving for things, don't get me wrong i am not suicidal at all. I too have tried searching out religion, which at times makes me feel empty and more confused, as i seem to question everything. I do not believe i am an atheiest. I do believe in God. I would just like to experience the peace and certainty that a lot of people who have religion seem to have.When you find out something that works, please share it. Thank you for making me not feel so alone in these thoughts.
Shelley
Tammy,
The words that you responded to my post with made tremendous amounts of sense to me. First of all I have had friends approach me about death and such. And what I tell them is that we are all uncertain of the details of existence after this one that we know. But I also ask them this when they confront me about whether they will ever get the chance to see a loved one again. I ask: "Do you think you go an entire life of experiencing hurting, loving, learning and it just all come to an end?" I also tell them: "It would not make a bit of sense if things were to be that way. Love goes beyond the boundaries of time, therefore we will be with our loved ones again."
I really believe those things, but when I am alone with my own thoughts I somehow fear a different scenario.
Lately I've just been trying to tell myself,"Look Dustin, you can't do anything about what happens after death, you can't change the process of things beyond your power. But you can be happy now, and do what you CAN do NOW." Also I try to remind myself to not ask "How?" and "Why?" about things beyond my control. The answers will come with time, patience, and effort. "This is your life Dustin, your dream, you are the one to make it happen."
Thanks so very much for your response. It truly made my day. To the Future...
Peace & love
-Dustin
The words that you responded to my post with made tremendous amounts of sense to me. First of all I have had friends approach me about death and such. And what I tell them is that we are all uncertain of the details of existence after this one that we know. But I also ask them this when they confront me about whether they will ever get the chance to see a loved one again. I ask: "Do you think you go an entire life of experiencing hurting, loving, learning and it just all come to an end?" I also tell them: "It would not make a bit of sense if things were to be that way. Love goes beyond the boundaries of time, therefore we will be with our loved ones again."
I really believe those things, but when I am alone with my own thoughts I somehow fear a different scenario.
Lately I've just been trying to tell myself,"Look Dustin, you can't do anything about what happens after death, you can't change the process of things beyond your power. But you can be happy now, and do what you CAN do NOW." Also I try to remind myself to not ask "How?" and "Why?" about things beyond my control. The answers will come with time, patience, and effort. "This is your life Dustin, your dream, you are the one to make it happen."
Thanks so very much for your response. It truly made my day. To the Future...
Peace & love
-Dustin
"So if you're careful
You won't get hurt
But if your careful all the time
then what's it worth"
-Cosy Prisons by A-ha
You won't get hurt
But if your careful all the time
then what's it worth"
-Cosy Prisons by A-ha
-
Bakedpears
- Posts: 73
- Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2001 3:00 am
Love goes beyond the boundaries of time, therefore we will be with our loved ones again."
Wow. Now you made my day. How beautiful.
I really believe those things, but when I am alone with my own thoughts I somehow fear a different scenario.
Sounds like anxiety is challenging you. Love is stronger than anxiety. I think you can win this one:)
Tammy
Wow. Now you made my day. How beautiful.
I really believe those things, but when I am alone with my own thoughts I somehow fear a different scenario.
Sounds like anxiety is challenging you. Love is stronger than anxiety. I think you can win this one:)
Tammy
Great, great topic and posts! I'm happy to see that others struggled with this as well. When I was a boy growing up and even into my 20's I would wake up in the middle of the night with cold sweats afraid of death and dying. Eternity scared the living heck out of me since our minds have difficulty grasping the concept. Only in the past few years due to reading spiritual books (not enough of the
Bible!) and listening to Christian music do I know that I will be with God for all eternity.
One of my favorite songs is by Third Day entitled "It's Alright" and the lyrics that constantly remind me of this are:
"It's alright"
"It's okay"
"I won't worry about tomorrow"
"For it brings me one more day"
"Closer than I was to You"
Thanks again for the terrific thread ... I'll read it again tonight.
Bible!) and listening to Christian music do I know that I will be with God for all eternity.
One of my favorite songs is by Third Day entitled "It's Alright" and the lyrics that constantly remind me of this are:
"It's alright"
"It's okay"
"I won't worry about tomorrow"
"For it brings me one more day"
"Closer than I was to You"
Thanks again for the terrific thread ... I'll read it again tonight.