Afraid of God

[AnneTeresa]

What can you do if you realize you’re afraid of God? While praying about a situation in my life today I realized it is hard for me to completely trust God because I am afraid of Him. I don’t mean afraid of judgment necessarily, just afraid that He will hurt me if I surrender this situation to Him. Intellectually I know that God will not give us more than He can handle but this is an emotional fear.

Are there prayers that would help, or Scriptures I should read? Is it something where you just grit your teeth and say “I trust you” even though you know you don’t completely? (that feels dishonest) Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Student09]

It’s best to be honest with God. You can say, “Lord, I’m afraid of you and of this situation, but I want to trust you … please help me to trust you.”

I understand your fear, I have been there. But the truth is that God is everything that is good, and in giving ourselves up to Him, we gain everything good. Ask for faith and trust. For what it’s worth, there have been times when I was really afraid that a particular thing would happen, and then it did - but every time that it has, it turned out to be for the best, as I was able to see clearly later.

Here are some Bible quotes for you:

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? Yea, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Lk. 12:6-7)

"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. Now if God clothe in this manner the grass that is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more you, O ye of little faith? And seek not you what you shall eat, or what you shall drink: and be not lifted up on high. For all these things do the nations of the world seek. But your Father knoweth that you have need of these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom." (Lk. 12:27-32)

“Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.” (Mt. 11:28-30)

“But the boat in the midst of the sea was tossed with the waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking upon the sea. And they seeing him walk upon the sea, were troubled, saying: It is an apparition. And they cried out for fear. And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: Be of good heart: it is I, fear ye not. And Peter making answer, said: Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters. And he said: Come. And Peter going down out of the boat, walked upon the water to come to Jesus. But seeing the wind strong, he was afraid: and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying: Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretching forth his hand took hold of him, and said to him: O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt?” (Mt. 14:24-31)

“And when he entered into the boat, his disciples followed him: And behold a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves, but he was asleep. And they came to him, and awaked him, saying: Lord, save us, we perish.
And Jesus saith to them: Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith? Then rising up he commanded the winds, and the sea, and there came a great calm.” (Mt. 8:23-26)

Psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd; I shall want for nothing) and any of the psalms. I recommend just opening up to a psalm at random and reading, they are very good for such times as they express a wide range of emotion and are prayers written by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

 

[stmarofnirvana]

Again,make your self a nice martini,fear not ,have two.

 

[Trolling]

StmarofNirvana is quite correct, agood martini will do wonders for the soul.

 

[Spirit1333]

Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God as well as God the Father. It might help to go to Mary and ask her for her motherly intercession. She can comfort you and guide you to her Son and help you feel at ease with the Holy Trinity. Jesus in His ministry said “Be not afraid” and “Peace be with you”, those words hold true for us as well.

May God bless you and keep you close to His loving heart, and hold you in the palm of His hands.

Peace.

 

[TheDoctor]

My dear AnneTeresa -

God love YOU. I am not talking about mankind my dear sister, I am talking specifically about YOU. He loves you with more love than you can ever know. He loved you before you were born and he has watched and cared about you every day of your life. He loved you on the days when you were great and he loved you on the days when you sinned. He desires with all of His heart that you spend eternity with Him in Heaven, so much so that He sent His only Son to die specifically for YOU.

How can someone who loves you that much, and that purely, hurt you? He cannot and will not. What He may allow is for you to experience some hurt and pain but greater good will come of it. Perhaps if the pain comes it is to draw you closer to Him. Perhaps it is to make you stronger for some other pain you must experience. Perhaps it is part of an answer to a prayer whose totality you cannot fathom yet and may not for years to come.

Just as a human father will do the best for their child even when they know the best may be painful for the child so God wills only the best for you. Go to Him in prayer and trust in His love and fidelity.

I will keep you and your intention in my prayers tonight.

 

[kentuckyliz]

When I read the Bible as a kid, and heard the OT readings at Mass, I decided I didn’t like God but I liked Jesus.

Jesus is the image (ikon) of the invisible God. Jesus said The father and I are one; if you see me, you see the father. Hear, know, love, follow=see.

That’s about the only way I can accept loving God the father, because I still don’t get the herem warfare thing, without falling into Marcionism. God was murderous and warlike, when I was a kid reading the Bible and watching the horrors of Vietnam on TV and all the adults in my life were war veterans.

 

[Monica4316]

What can you do if you realize you’re afraid of God? While praying about a situation in my life today I realized it is hard for me to completely trust God because I am afraid of Him. I don’t mean afraid of judgment necessarily, just afraid that He will hurt me if I surrender this situation to Him. Intellectually I know that God will not give us more than He can handle but this is an emotional fear.

Are there prayers that would help, or Scriptures I should read? Is it something where you just grit your teeth and say “I trust you” even though you know you don’t completely? (that feels dishonest) Any advice is appreciated.

choosing our faith over our feelings is never dishonest… rather, it’s demonstrating that in your *will *you love and trust God.

Have you ever read about the Divine Mercy devotion, or the book “Consoling the Heart of Jesus” by (now Fr) Michael Gaitley? Both deal quite a bit with trusting God… the more we trust, the more graces we’re able to receive… as for God hurting you if you surrender to Him - I sometimes have this fear too, to be honest, but sometimes He shows me that this fear is not based on truth. God is very gentle, very merciful… He only wants the best for you. If you surrender to Him, He will be able to work more in your life, and also work through you. If we are generous with Him, He is a thousand times more generous… a Scripture verse that helps me is from Matthew 7… “Which of you, **if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? **Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

as for perhaps needing to endure suffering if you surrender to God… that is sometimes a fear that i have… well the suffering will happen anyways, but if we surrender to God, we’ll have the strength to bear it better. Also, maybe we need this suffering for our salvation or to help other souls. Above all… we need to trust in God’s goodness, that is so important. His mercy, goodness, love, - that is our hope… Jesus told St Faustina that even the devils know that God is just, but they do not believe in His goodness. Tell Jesus… that you know that He loves you… maybe go to Adoration and just gaze at Him… ask Him to be in your heart and don’t separate yourself from Him. If you just focus on His love more than on your fear, that might give you the strength you need to surrender to Him. It will only be for the best

For the past several months, I’ve been really afraid of surrendering to God about several issues… yesterday I went to Mass, and during the Mass, I was able to open my heart to God and He gave me so much peace. He could have been angry at me, because of my lack of trust/faith/courage/love for Him… instead He was very generous. That is what God is like… He does not give us what we deserve, as long as we humbly repent and want to do His will.

God bless :hug1:

 

[caeli0]

What can you do if you realize you’re afraid of God? While praying about a situation in my life today I realized it is hard for me to completely trust God because I am afraid of Him. I don’t mean afraid of judgment necessarily, just afraid that He will hurt me if I surrender this situation to Him. Intellectually I know that God will not give us more than He can handle but this is an emotional fear.

Are there prayers that would help, or Scriptures I should read? Is it something where you just grit your teeth and say “I trust you” even though you know you don’t completely? (that feels dishonest) Any advice is appreciated.

Ask Him for the grace. You most probably are afraid He won’t see things your way, and He probably won’t. He is the most wise and we must accept that. These are things that must come from the most High Almighty God. Continue to ask for the grace to accept that. That He knows all and He is in control of all. Surrender all to him, continue to do so, especially in your fear. The more fear you feel the more you surrender to Him. Continue to ask for the graces necessary to bring you closer to trusting Him.

Sometimes I just tell Him flat out, “Send graces necessary to handle this, I am not doing a very good job and until You do I don’t expect to do better!” I know that without Him I don’t have a chance and if He wants me to do it His way He must show it to me. Then I ask for the grace to see that He has done so. That I don’t accept the first easy way out if it is not His way. Even if I miss it, I know it was for a reason.

He will guide you in His time not yours, but you must follow especially when it “hurts” or in your words are “afraid“. The peace you will be blessed with will be indescribable, but the price is high it does not come easy.

With God’s graces…

 

[jazzy_987]

I’ve been feeling the same way… your post describes my exact situation.
I asked God to help me trust Him… reminds me of Mark 9:24 “I believe; help my unbelief!”

I want to thank you for making this thread and the posters for replying.