fear of hell

[DavidKays]

Hi David, thanks for the suggestion I have the book, though I haven’t yet finished reading it. I do find it comforting that she went through many trials yet they were for her sanctification. The problem is that I’m always afraid that my trials are actually the result of sin, I don’t see myself as being in the same situation as her, though her sufferings also invoved despair. I have asked St Faustina to pray for me many times though and she always helps

God bless

I think Monica that your trials are also for your sanctication as well. All trials are sent to us for our sanctification no matter what it is and to whom they are going to. Each one of us are going through them now. You cannot say your trials are the result of sin. That will mean sanctity goes backwards and saying that sin creates them is not correct at all. Let me explain. Maria wanted to practice a virtue one day for the whole day. Yet in that day she fell to the opposite of that virtue 10X. She sinned 10X !! And she wanted to practice the virtue! What happened? Jesus came to her that evening and said " you were relying to much on yourself and not on Me. " You see Monica why we fall too much. We rely too much on yourselves and not on Jesus. This then is good to know for this also can help us in our sanctication. Even our faults can be a source of strength to teach us that. Too much on ourselves. We need to rely more on the One who can be our strength. This process may take years to accomplish. The strength of God is what we need to seek and not our own. Remember even our own sins can be used for own sanctification. God Bless!

 

[Monica4316]

Thank you for the advice

I’m going through such a confusing time and i wish I had a spiritual director. It often seems to me that I have already lost God, and am unable to come back to Him, yet I also know that I want to be with Him and love Him. I am really trying to come back to Him, to pray, to go to Church, to believe all the Church teachings… sadly, for some reason, whenever I plan to go to Confession, something comes up and I’m not able to. This has been going on for weeks. Even today, I was planning on going to Confession, and now it seems like I won’t be able to get there, once again I think maybe God is still preparing me for a good Confession…

It makes no sense to me because I feel like I don’t love God at all, and yet in my will I do love Him and miss Him very much.

I’ve been reading ‘Divine Mercy in My Soul’ and it’s incredible what St Faustina went through… I hope she will pray for me

God bless!

 

[DavidKays]

Thank you for the advice

I’m going through such a confusing time and i wish I had a spiritual director. It often seems to me that I have already lost God, and am unable to come back to Him, yet I also know that I want to be with Him and love Him. I am really trying to come back to Him, to pray, to go to Church, to believe all the Church teachings… sadly, for some reason, whenever I plan to go to Confession, something comes up and I’m not able to. This has been going on for weeks. Even today, I was planning on going to Confession, and now it seems like I won’t be able to get there, once again I think maybe God is still preparing me for a good Confession…

It makes no sense to me because I feel like I don’t love God at all, and yet in my will I do love Him and miss Him very much.

I’ve been reading ‘Divine Mercy in My Soul’ and it’s incredible what St Faustina went through… I hope she will pray for me

God bless!

Hi Monica. Glad you are reading the Diary. Sorry that you are going through this difficult time. I read your post and may I suggest something to you that I am getting at when I read your post. May by God does not think your sins are not as bad as you think them to be. He is telling you that because He is preventing you not to go to Confession. Monica this is God’s way as saying your sins do not bother Him. You do not have to go to confession everytime you do this or did this or think of this. Do you understand? He is pleased with you. Try not to tell Him His buisiness. Allow Him to tell you. Think of His Love Monica. Don’t refer to His justice. He desires only your love. Don’t be too hard on yourself. This is what He is telling you. He may be preventing you to come to confessions sometimes to teach you that. Know now that He is with you. He is more pleased and more connected to you now then if He speaks to you. God is right beside you and He is in you and He is above you. What more do you want? Don’t condemn yourself all the time. God is merciful which means He is like a big teddy bear that you can go to anytime and hug. He needs a hug too so give Him that. He is teaching you to lighten up and to see that He is pleased with you and is pleased with your efforts. God Blessed!

 

[fhansen]

Hi, for the past few weeks I’ve been dealing with a lot of fear of hell, and fear of death… whenever I think of salvation, or Heaven, hell, purgatory, - I get nervous… I can’t figure out what the state of my soul is… I’m trying very hard to repent of all my sins, but sometimes I’m afraid I’m missing something, or not repenting well enough, etc. I feel far from God, and like I’ve lost so many graces. It might also be because I haven’t had the opportunity to go to Confession for a while, but I’m really planning to go soon. Well my question is… last Sunday I was at Mass, and I felt SO much better, and God gave me peace and consolation that lasted the whole day… I was very thankful for that, and it encouraged me to keep going, but then I started questioning the experience, and doubting if it wasn’t just in my mind. **How do we hold on to hope and faith, when we’re being tempted to fear and doubt? **

thanks

The temptation to fear and doubt always originates with thoughts-fear doesn’t erupt out of the blue in my experience. I liked last Sundays first reading from Ecclesiastes, especially the last couple of lines:

" …even at night his mind is not at rest.
This also is vanity."

Even our anxieties our prompted by vanity, which the tempter exploits. I think God wants us to be still, and stop listening to the wrong voice. Easier said than done, I know, but I like the idea that it’s all tied to our vanity. We can, with Gods help, control that monster.

 

[Monica4316]

Thanks everyone!!

I finally have good news!!! Because of a surprising turn of events… I was able to go to Confession just now!! Before Confession, I was talking to my dad and I told him how I’m afraid to go because I dont know if God will forgive me… and dad really encouraged me to trust in God’s mercy. On the way to the Church, God gave me hope in His forgiveness.

The priest understood my problem right away and said all the right things, which helped me!! And after Confession… I finally felt forgiven!!! I’m still kind of ‘shaky’ but I’m trying to trust in God and I feel in my soul that I’m back with Him. I think my problem was distrust. I did sin but I needed to have more faith. Now that I know this I will definitely try to have more faith.

Thanks for all your advice and help things are so much clearer for me now! I finally feel God in my soul again and am able to love Him. Confession is a great gift I’m so happy! lol!

God bless!