It happened when I was a teenager. I lay awake in the blackness of an isolated campground, my stomach in knots, shaking at the sound of every small animal that rustled in the grass. A police car had just come around to warn us that a girl had been brutally murdered in the park where we were camping and that the killer had not yet been found. My imagination went wild, wondering if I would be the next victim. I think I was born feeling afraid… afraid of germs, spiders, snakes, car wrecks, airplane crashes, disease, criminals. You name it, I was afraid of it. I guess the bottom line is that I was afraid of anything that might lead to my dying. I grew up in a home where I was taught the existence of a good, loving God. At the same time I knew that inwardly I was not a good person. I never physically injured anyone, but in my heart I enjoyed hurting my siblings with my words. I was careful to act like a good girl, but inwardly my thoughts were often impure. The thought of standing before a pure, holy God and having my sinful heart exposed was terrifying, because I knew that the Bible also taught the existence of hell. There was no doubt in my mind that I deserved to be punished for my sin. The one thing I want to share with you is that I found a cure for fear! I learned that Jesus Christ took my punishment when He died on the cross. He then showed He is the Son of God and has power over death by coming back to life three days later. The Bible taught me that if anyone believes in His death and resurrection as the full payment for sin, he will receive forgiveness and the free gift of eternal life. I chose to believe the wonderful thing Jesus did for me, and I asked him to forgive my sinful heart. Immediately my fear of death was gone. Because Jesus promised that whoever believes in Him can join Him in heaven, now for me death is the doorway into something more beautiful and amazing than I can even imagine. Do I still feel afraid sometimes? Sure, I do! The night of that camping trip, I was terrified! However, during that long night I picked up my Bible, and read these words, "The Lord is my light and my salvation, so why should I be afraid? The Lord will hold me close…Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord." (Psalm 27) He did protect me that night, and the killer was soon arrested. More importantly, because God loves and forgives me, I can choose to trust Him anytime I feel fearful. No matter what happens to me in this life, I have the wonderful peace of knowing my future is full of joy because of Jesus!