Anna asked to see me in her waning hours. Lung cancer was shortening her life radically at a young age. She was only 47 years old, a hard-working single mother. Today she was having difficulty breathing, and with a tube in her nose talking was not easy either.
What Anna said went like this: "I'm in so much pain, I can't keep my mind on Jesus." Tears welled up in her eyes as she talked. "I'm afraid I can't hang on to God and that scares me. I feel so weak and I'm thinking about my children and feeling so troubled over much of my life." Then the tears poured out: "I'm afraid I wont have enough faith to go to heaven!"
She shared a few more thoughts and I mostly listened with brief comments showing I was hearing and understanding her deep anxiety. Then I realized she was very tired and needed to hear from me about her fear.
"Anna," I said slowly, holding her hand in mine, "God holds on to you. You do not have to hold on to God." I paused and waited for the words to sink in. "God will never leave you or forsake you. Please relax and let that promise embrace and comfort you."
I then prayed slowly emphasizing those truths trying to saturate her soul with confidence and security and change her fear to joy.
I cannot adequately describe the look on Anna's face. It became totally peaceful, with a slight incredulous smile as well. Something enormous had changed in her. Then with tears of joy she said "That is so good! I have never heard such promises. That is so good! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." Then she closed her eyes and went to sleep.
What Anna said went like this: "I'm in so much pain, I can't keep my mind on Jesus." Tears welled up in her eyes as she talked. "I'm afraid I can't hang on to God and that scares me. I feel so weak and I'm thinking about my children and feeling so troubled over much of my life." Then the tears poured out: "I'm afraid I wont have enough faith to go to heaven!"
She shared a few more thoughts and I mostly listened with brief comments showing I was hearing and understanding her deep anxiety. Then I realized she was very tired and needed to hear from me about her fear.
"Anna," I said slowly, holding her hand in mine, "God holds on to you. You do not have to hold on to God." I paused and waited for the words to sink in. "God will never leave you or forsake you. Please relax and let that promise embrace and comfort you."
I then prayed slowly emphasizing those truths trying to saturate her soul with confidence and security and change her fear to joy.
I cannot adequately describe the look on Anna's face. It became totally peaceful, with a slight incredulous smile as well. Something enormous had changed in her. Then with tears of joy she said "That is so good! I have never heard such promises. That is so good! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." Then she closed her eyes and went to sleep.
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