The Fear of Dying Alone

My grandmother is currently very ill and the doctors and nurses who administer care have indicated that she doesn't have long to live. This news of being near death has put my parents on a 24 hour vigil of either sitting by her bedside or having sleepless nights waiting on the phone to ring.

I am thankful that they are so willing to provide attention and care in such a delicate situation.

"But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8

Since all humans have been created with a social nature, many people find it overwhelming when a loved one passes into eternity alone. For the non-present loved ones, there is often a feeling of guilt, remorse, or great sadness that they were not at the bedside when the dying passed on.

These moments of humanity are best handled with a heavy dose and understanding of God's word. Psalm 23 should bring great comfort to an individual facing the trials of life, especially death. When we belong to the Lord, facing death alone is not an option. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us and He comforts us.

The Lord Jesus also gave us this promise in Matthew 28:20 when He said that He is with us always even until the end of the age.

It is a commendable and noble effort to spend as much time as possible with the dying, but not the the point of withdrawing from the Lord and fellowship with His church. In the moments leading up to death, it is not just the dying that needs to be filled with the Word. Those who surround the dying should retreat in the sanctity of God's Holy Word just as deeply. Fellowship with the saints should never be so comforting as when we are coming together to worship the Almighty and usher one of our own off to glory.

May the peace that surpasses all understanding not just come upon the dying, but also upon the one who longs to sit by their side.