A Prayer for Turning Over Fear of Losing a Loved One
By Heidi Vegh
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” - 1 John 4:18
The thought of losing someone we love can be all-consuming. We think about the loss and how much it would hurt, and we cringe. We let worry take over our hearts that tragedy could strike at any moment. We hear stories about fluke accidents that take children or spouses too soon. We witness friends and family and strangers in the news face devastating loss and feel extreme relief that it is not us, but we fear that one day it will be. We believe the lie that if that happened to us, we could not survive. We feel as though we would fall over dead at the news of such profound loss.
Living in these fears is a strategic tactic of the enemy to steal our joy. The enemy's sole agenda is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He wants us tangled up in worry and consumed with thoughts of the worst. He wants us lost in fear so much that we can't enjoy the precious moments with the people around us. When these thoughts consume us, we must take them to the Lord. We must rebuke the enemy's lies and ask God to fill us with a peace that only He can provide. Jesus offers a peace that runs so deep that we can say, "Even if" the worst happens, I will be ok, and God will never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). When we can allow ourselves to get through the worst-case scenario and imagine ourselves on the other side, that is where we can find peace.
This means completely surrendering our fears to the Lord. Completely surrendering our loved ones. We trust that He will meet us in that deep pain and give us the strength to survive the loss and watch Him work it all for good. (Romans 8:28). I witnessed this firsthand when I watched my husband die from cancer at thirty-three, leaving me alone with two small children. Over the last decade, I have seen miracle after miracle as God has given me the strength and ability to rebuild my life. I can see God's hand working in all the grief and pain, bringing me to the other side. This is not to say that I don't still grieve my loss and suffer its consequences, but God has shown up so powerfully in my life that I can't deny His presence with me every step of the way.
Let's pray:
Lord, please protect the people that I love most. Protect their bodies, minds, and hearts. Protect them from disease, accidents, and injury. Surround them with a legion of angels. But even as I pray, Lord, I am afraid. I am so scared of losing the people that I love the most. The fear consumes me, and worry overtakes my thoughts. I need your peace, Lord. I need to trust you even if the worst-case scenario becomes a reality. Please help me know you better, trust you more, and live a life free of fear. I want to live in your perfect love, a love that casts out fear (1 John 4:18). I want to live a joy-filled life filled with purpose and enjoyment. I rebuke the enemy who wants to steal the time that I do have with my loved ones. I rebuke the fear that grips me. I rebuke the lies that I could not survive the loss. I rebuke the idea that I would crumble and my life would turn to shambles if I lost a loved one. I trust that even if I lose a loved one, you will work it for your good, ultimately bringing beauty from ashes and flowing streams of living water in the deserts. I chose to live in your peace and joy today. I chose you over fear, and I chose today your promises over the lies of the enemy.
In your precious name, we pray, Jesus, amen.
Heidi Vegh is a writer, speaker, and ministry leader living in Western Washington. She is a remarried mother of four, navigating the blended family life after the loss of her first husband to cancer in 2013. She longs to use her writing as a way to encourage others who have experienced loss and guide them on the road to healing. She contributes to her blog found at www.mrsheidivegh.com , sharing stories and devotionals of faith stemming from her loss and healing, mothering, and her blended and complex family. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in Creative Writing and English and is working on her first book. Heidi is the Women’s Ministry Director at her local church and has a deep heart for sharing Jesus with women and encouraging them in their faith walk. When she is not writing, she loves to travel, read, craft, and experiment in the kitchen. Visit her Facebook and Instagram (@mrsheidivegh) to learn more.
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Originally published Tuesday, 18 June 2024.
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