How can I stop living in fear?

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Contra_Mundum_1

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I’ve always admired and envied those Catholics who are joyful in their faith, and who don’t seem to be afraid. I live in constant fear and anxiety and that is making my life very difficult. I love the Lord and I have faith but struggle with these emotions daily.
What is it that I fear?
I’m afraid of this world that hates God. The society in which I live is becoming increasingly anti-Christian and I feel that I have to hide my beliefs to be able to communicate with people and not be called a nutcase. I’m afraid that our civilisation is going to come to its end very soon. I’m afraid that my children will be lost to this world because its messages are so loud and forceful, while our Lord speaks softly and many don’t hear or choose to ignore Him. I’m afraid that hell is winning at the moment and sometimes even wonder if my faith is an illusion because of the evil I witness every day.

I don’t know how to cope with this anymore. Praying the Divine Mercy chaplet and the Rosary helps but the fear always returns. I’m sure this is a very common feeling but I don’t want to end up in despair.

How do you cope?
Could you suggest any spiritual reading that could help me?
 
I am sorry you are filled with so much anxiety over our troubled world. I too feel this at times, especially when I turn on the news and see all the bad things happening. What helps me is to give up trying to control people and happenings. The only thing we have control over is ourselves, our attitudes, etc. Ask yourself what you truly fear. Even IF all your fears were to come to true, with the holy spirit in your heart you will still have joy and peace. This is something no one can take from you. Think of all the disciples and Christian martyrs throughout the centuries that went through horrible persecutions and deaths. They still had the peace of God in them and lived with joy. We must find the faith to stand alone in this world with only Jesus by our side to shine His light even in the darkest of times and places. Just focus on this and let go. Peace to you.
 
Contra_Mundum said:
I’m afraid of this world that hates God. The society in which I live is becoming increasingly anti-Christian and I feel that I have to hide my beliefs to be able to communicate with people and not be called a nutcase. ?
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do not fear the one who has power to kill, fear the one who has power to cast into hell. that is Paul’s advice. Is it possible to conquer fear? no not under human power alone, but if you have been confirmed you have the gift of fortitude and spiritual and physical courage to deal with even the harshest persecution (being considered a nutcase is not persecution it is dealing with ignorance). That is what the anointing of the sacrament does. Your power is real, it comes from the Holy Spirit and is maintained as long as you remain in a state of sanctifying grace. The only thing you should fear is your own personal sin. you can conquer fear by considering the real enemy, sin, and giving all this wasted energy consumed by worldly anxiety into growth in virtue and holiness. Find somebody to serve. Do it today.

There is also usually a simple natural explanation for fears and anxieties, even when we say the fear is about something global–world conflict, irreligion, culture of death–it is quite likely there is also a close personal basis for fear, and it is worthwhile asking for professional help to uncover and deal with the real, personal issues as well.
 
Contra_Mundum said:
I’ve always admired and envied those Catholics who are joyful in their faith, and who don’t seem to be afraid. I live in constant fear and anxiety and that is making my life very difficult. I love the Lord and I have faith but struggle with these emotions daily.
What is it that I fear?
I’m afraid of this world that hates God. The society in which I live is becoming increasingly anti-Christian and I feel that I have to hide my beliefs to be able to communicate with people and not be called a nutcase. I’m afraid that our civilisation is going to come to its end very soon. I’m afraid that my children will be lost to this world because its messages are so loud and forceful, while our Lord speaks softly and many don’t hear or choose to ignore Him. I’m afraid that hell is winning at the moment and sometimes even wonder if my faith is an illusion because of the evil I witness every day.

I don’t know how to cope with this anymore. Praying the Divine Mercy chaplet and the Rosary helps but the fear always returns. I’m sure this is a very common feeling but I don’t want to end up in despair.

How do you cope?
Could you suggest any spiritual reading that could help me?
Click to expand...
Hi,

Over coming the anxiety is a long process.To be honest , in my opinion, it is the lack of trust in the Lord.

I have the same anxiety issues once in a while when troubles come on my way. When many traditional prayers helps greatly in our daily lives and also during times like this , there is one thing which very very powerful and consoling. The word of God. There are many many promises in the Bible and many verses about anxiety. I will mention few , would you mind looking them up yourself ? 🙂

Can you try taking one verse a day and keep reciting it through out the day in your heart. It is an effortless job but you will see how the power of the word of God acts in your life.

Psalm 23:4
Proverbs 3:5-6
Psalm 121:1-2
Matthew 6:34
Matthew 11:28-30
Matthew 6:25-27
1 Peter 4:7
Philippians 4:6
Psalm 46:10
Isaiah 41:10
Psalm 94:19
Psalm 119:28

These are few. Have you tried meditating on the word of God and turning them into prayers ?

Joe
 
Perfect love casts out fear. Try immersing yourself in God’s love - I found this book tremendously helpful and life-changing.
 
Contra_Mundum said:
I’ve always admired and envied those Catholics who are joyful in their faith, and who don’t seem to be afraid. I live in constant fear and anxiety and that is making my life very difficult. I love the Lord and I have faith but struggle with these emotions daily.
What is it that I fear?
I’m afraid of this world that hates God. The society in which I live is becoming increasingly anti-Christian and I feel that I have to hide my beliefs to be able to communicate with people and not be called a nutcase. I’m afraid that our civilisation is going to come to its end very soon. I’m afraid that my children will be lost to this world because its messages are so loud and forceful, while our Lord speaks softly and many don’t hear or choose to ignore Him. I’m afraid that hell is winning at the moment and sometimes even wonder if my faith is an illusion because of the evil I witness every day.

I don’t know how to cope with this anymore. Praying the Divine Mercy chaplet and the Rosary helps but the fear always returns. I’m sure this is a very common feeling but I don’t want to end up in despair.

How do you cope?
Could you suggest any spiritual reading that could help me?
Click to expand...
*Dear Contra Mundum,

Fear is something I have struggled with ever since I can remember. I personally know how torturous it can be.
What I have found that helps me the most is every time I “feel” the fear coming I try immersing myself in God’s Love, like baltobetsy suggested, as much as I can through Faith and Hope in His promises and His Love.
I personally have found that receiving Jesus, in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, is what dispels this fear the most. It is a way that I can just let Him saturate me with Himself and He is always so wanting me to let Him dispel all my fears…so I figure why not let Him…as often as I can…

I think I am also going to check out the book that Baltobetsy suggested…

I hope and pray you find some peace with this…but like joeantony said it is a long proscess…but every time you feel that fear coming in just try to not dwell on the fear but put it out of your mind by replacing it with Jesus. Just start dwelling on Him and His Love instead of the thought that is causing the fear…and like my spiritual advisory said just say; “get behind me satan!”

Anyway, from a kindred soul, I hope and pray this helps,
*
 
Thank you all for your replies and suggestions.

I will look for the book, and will use the suggested Scripture verses as daily prayers.
I’m going to Confession on saturday, which always helps me get a perspective on things.
Thanks again.
 
Contra_Mundum said:
I’ve always admired and envied those Catholics who are joyful in their faith, and who don’t seem to be afraid. I live in constant fear and anxiety and that is making my life very difficult. I love the Lord and I have faith but struggle with these emotions daily.
What is it that I fear?
I’m afraid of this world that hates God. The society in which I live is becoming increasingly anti-Christian and I feel that I have to hide my beliefs to be able to communicate with people and not be called a nutcase. I’m afraid that our civilisation is going to come to its end very soon. I’m afraid that my children will be lost to this world because its messages are so loud and forceful, while our Lord speaks softly and many don’t hear or choose to ignore Him. I’m afraid that hell is winning at the moment and sometimes even wonder if my faith is an illusion because of the evil I witness every day.

I don’t know how to cope with this anymore. Praying the Divine Mercy chaplet and the Rosary helps but the fear always returns. I’m sure this is a very common feeling but I don’t want to end up in despair.

How do you cope?
Could you suggest any spiritual reading that could help me?
Click to expand...
You need not worry. You want to know how those catholics and christians can go on without fear? Its partly because all the evil that is happening now was already predicted in the bible. It is written that the world would become increasingly evil before Jesus’ second coming. BUT it is also written that those who believe in him will be protected and saved.

This is Psalm 91 (NLT). It is a testament to the powerful protection of God for His believers.

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”

There is also Psalm 23 (KJV) which is very well known. It speaks of how the Lord is with us even in the midst of evil surrounding us.

1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
 
Contra_Mundum said:
I’ve always admired and envied those Catholics who are joyful in their faith, and who don’t seem to be afraid. I live in constant fear and anxiety and that is making my life very difficult. I love the Lord and I have faith but struggle with these emotions daily.
What is it that I fear?
I’m afraid of this world that hates God. The society in which I live is becoming increasingly anti-Christian and I feel that I have to hide my beliefs to be able to communicate with people and not be called a nutcase. I’m afraid that our civilisation is going to come to its end very soon. I’m afraid that my children will be lost to this world because its messages are so loud and forceful, while our Lord speaks softly and many don’t hear or choose to ignore Him. I’m afraid that hell is winning at the moment and sometimes even wonder if my faith is an illusion because of the evil I witness every day.

I don’t know how to cope with this anymore. Praying the Divine Mercy chaplet and the Rosary helps but the fear always returns. I’m sure this is a very common feeling but I don’t want to end up in despair.

How do you cope?
Could you suggest any spiritual reading that could help me?
Click to expand...
I think the only solution is praying for JESUS second coming to come ASAP to take us back to Paradise…
 
Contra_Mundum said:
Thank you all for your replies and suggestions.

I will look for the book, and will use the suggested Scripture verses as daily prayers.
I’m going to Confession on saturday, which always helps me get a perspective on things.
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
*I was thinking some more on this question of yours and if you are still interested here is another thought/contemplation/meditation that I have found that helps me “deal” with fear. Remembering how our Blessed Mother Mary, the apostles, especially the ones at the foot of the cross who actually where with Jesus as He died, must have felt.
Here was their Messiah, dead. How they must have had to fight off the despairing fear and dread that tried creeping into there hearts, minds and souls. Especially our Blessed Mother Mary’s. This was also her Son. She had to have a lot of trust in God’s Divine plan to be able to push back all that despairing fear and dread.
Dwelling in how they, through God’s grace, pulled through it helps me to keep trying.
 
The thing I fear most is sinning against God, and yet I do that all the time.

A book on Jewish spirituality, based on our Old Testament, talks about three kinds of fear of God.
  1. fear of punishment for sins
  2. fear of offending God, for particular sins
  3. fear or trembling fear of God, in general.
These are very close to the petitions in our Act of Contrition.

Jesus tells us that the wheat will grow up with the chaff, but be separated at the harvest, at the end of time.

Scripture says someplace that “things of old will be forgotten” – which has been interpreted to mean that in eternity, we may lose the memory of our loved ones who might not have been saved, otherwise we would have eternal regret over their loss.

We need to face our fears like the early Christians faced the lions and other wild aniimals. We must remain sober and realistic about our commitments and faith. Over and over scripture reminds us to persevere until the end. I know, on some days, I don’t even make it until noon. But, we have to go on, even amidst our tears.
 
Greetings and peace be with you.Contra Mundum;

This verse is so profound
Philippians 4

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Blessings

Eric
 
Breathe in the Embolism–the prayer the priest says after we pray the Our Father together at Mass.

Intercessory prayer.

Marian consecration.

Image of the Divine Mercy with that most wonderful prayer, “Jesus, I trust in you!”
 
Staying nestled under God’s wing.

Staying hidden under Mary’s mantle.

Those lovely thoughts are in Night Prayer (Compline), explicitly or implied.
 
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