Do you truly believe in God's unconditional love for you?

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Well, think about it. Imagine a world without consequences. We would all go to Heaven. Everyone would commit sin without even batting an eye. On earth we have consequences for our actions.

Again, ultimately, it is our decision. God won’t be throwing anyone into Hell unless they choose it themselves.
 
Excellent. This is also one of the reasons I pray for all my ancestors. I am here partly because of them. Out of justice I should do it.

I do believe and know it, emotionally and intellectually. Perhaps because I have been going to daily Mass, daily prayer, Adoration when I can for a decade or so.
 
Sure, I know the arguments. But I don’t see any love in creating a reality where someone can be thrown into a lake of fire. That doesn’t sound like love. “Do this thing or you’ll get burned forever.”
 
I think it was described quite well in an excerpt of a book called “The Dogma of Hell” by Father Schouppe.

A woman was meditating on the justice of God. She couldn’t reconcile the immeasurable severity with the Divine goodness. “Lord,” she said, “I submit to Thy judgments, but do not push the rigors of Thy justice too far.”

"Do you understand," was the answer, “what sin is? To sin is to say, God, I will not serve Thee! I despise Thy law! I laugh at Thy threats!” “I understand, Lord, that sin is an outrage to Thy Majesty.”
"Well, measure, if you can, the greatness of this outrage." “Lord this outrage is infinite, since it attacks infinite Majesty.” "Must it not, then, be punished by an infinite chastisement? Now, as the punishment could not be infinite in its intensity, justice demands that it be so at least in its duration. Accordingly, it is the divine justice that wills the eternity of the pains."

Ultimately, we follow God’s laws because it is for our good. It isn’t because God just wants to control us.
 
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Except I’m not talking about good in the traditional problem of evil.

This is about love. We’re not talking about a punishment meant for correction. There is no correction out of hell. We’re not talking about a spanking, or cutting off a druggie child. That’s all meant to change behavior.

We’re talking about pure revenge. Punishment without end. That isn’t love in any book I can agree with
 
I want to thank all of you for your responses to Nuclear’s post. I’ve been wanting to share my struggles with accepting God’s unconditional love, but was too ashamed to post. I’ve never really believed that God could love an imperfect, wounded person like me.

In fact, for most of my life, I equated God to be like my father: hurtful, hateful, rejecting, violent.

But, somehow, through His love, I have survived the worst and now thrive! He has seen me through so many crises (most of my own making), so how can I have any doubts? But, many times I do have doubts.

Perhaps, despite it all, I really do accept the love of God. I’m trying, believe me, I’m trying very hard to break out of my fear.

Stuart
 
Sometimes I think, If only I were like the angels, I would not sin, have useless emotions, and be hindered by concupiscence.

I have no power over thoughts and emotions…if I could program myself to be a sinless robot, I would…
 
You are 100% not alone in this. God bless you and I hope you find (more like understand and can believe in) God’s love and mercy someday!
 
God is incapable of revenge, but He is just. If the punishment were temporal, many would still go on committing sin because they would think, “it’s only temporary, then I’ll be in heaven.” It would be wrongfully rewarded. There is no way to sneak into Heaven, it is reserved for those who earned it with sweat and tears. Sorry I’m gonna let this be my last post here because I don’t want to go too off topic!

Cheers and God bless! 🙂
 
I have thought the same. With prayer things become easier.

I pray God enlightens you with His love. God bless.
 
For me, it’s the fact that I’m still on this earth even though I not worthy of heaven because of my actions
 
Rhubarb said:
“Do this thing or you’ll get burned forever.”
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Yes, it’s hard to be good. That’s all He asks for he is goodness and we want to be like our Father… You can choose to be good… and there are consequences for bad behavior. (And God is so good that if you choose evil and repent, he will forgive you and take you to the goodness… ) Who among us could act with His Mercy? We are so unworthy…
 
NuclearReceptor said:
Where does one find trust in God’s love?
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In prayers. Need to immerse ourselves in prayers. Persevere. Increase the prayers in our lives, Sacraments, word of God, act of mercy and be active in the church, and less of the worldly activities.

When our mind is not distracted and filled with other things, we will find God. Once that is done, we will definitely experience His love, one way or the other.

God bless.
 
YOU are the one who says no to God. No I don’t want to be with you. No I don’t believe in you and I don’t love you. Your choice. God will forgive you anytime you ask. Anytime you are ready to say, Yes, I do love you, I do believe in you and I do want to be with you for ETERNITY… YOU say that at any time and mean it, you are forgiven… How good is that???
 
God could have made you a robot but he wanted a real live unique person.
 
I mean, sure, it’s pretty good. But unconditional love means unconditional. WIthout condition. Which means you’re obliged to say that he lovingly stands by as we throw ourselves into the fire? That isn’t any kind of love I know of. I don’t call that love.

Love would be grabbing that person, tearing them from the abyss even though they don’t deserve it. Even though they haven’t earned it.
 
He does that all the time. None of us deserves heaven. None of us deserves God’s love. It’s a mystery, for sure.
Praying for you to discover God’s love for you!
 
If I got hit by a tomato truck tomorrow, here’s what you will suggest will happen to me.

I’ll get ripped from my body and taken before God’s throne. He’ll say “Well, you gave religion a chance, really considered it. But you decided it didn’t add up, and there wasn’t enough evidence. You kept an open mind, and maybe would’ve come around. But, no, you died. So off to the fire with you.”

That isn’t love. Not true unconditional love.
 
No one knows how God will judge. Maybe you won’t actually get condemned to hell even if you die tomorrow. Who knows? It seems you’re not actively pushing God away so at least there’s hope at a level we can’t perceive or comprehend…
 
I came to believe it about ten months ago. God revealed His Son to me, though I was nothing but a wretched, wicked sinner. I don’t deserve all the nice things God does for me, but I’d be a fool to just leave it alone and not take it. None of us are worthy to be called children of God, but once the righteousness of Christ is imputed unto you, you become a new creation.

God’s got everything to do with it. I can’t take credit for the faith that I have. Frankly, I praise God that He let you fall into despair because you are now understanding the fact that you can’t do it on your own. He is breaking the shackles of your ego that have imprisoned you for far too long. You have to call out to God as an absolutely helpless and guilty individual. I hope that this season of despair is the beginning of a new life in Christ that is waiting for you.
 
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