Intrusive Thoughts of Hell

[CaptainPrudeman]

I’m aware that we can never truly know if someone is in hell or not, but I keep having rather intrusive thoughts about a specific someone being there. How can I stop? It’s rather uncharitable, especially because I know God mourns for souls lost to hell, and I don’t want to take joy where He is saddened.

 

[crenfro]

Hello.

Pray for this person, especially when you have an intrusive thought. It helps.

 

[Ardent_Fire]

It’s not uncharitable if you are finding the thought intrusive. Lack of charity would be having that thought in your head and enjoying it or fantasizing about it. We can’t always help the thoughts that pop up in our heads. You could offer a brief prayer for the person and then just gently let it go without distressing yourself over the fact that it came up in your head. Intrusive thoughts can be a sign of depression and anxiety so if you’re showing symptoms and it’s causing you persistent distress and interruptions in your abilities to think and function, it may be worth getting help.

 

[CaptainPrudeman]

Nothing really serious, but I’ll be doing something and randomly think “I hope this person’s in hell.” Then it goes away. I don’t dwell on it and I generally hope they repented, but there’s some times where it happens to cross my mind.

 

[Ardent_Fire]

Well, like you said, the thought is random and not intentional. I think sometimes without wishing it, thoughts can get “stuck” in our head. I know you in your right mind would never really wish that for the person, especially given the fact you’re trying to get advice for it on here.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

How can I stop?

Start saying to yourself, I hope that this person is not in hell.

 

[Ardent_Fire]

I once had a situation where I was so furious at my boss I stewed at my desk and very briefly thought of him as the Rich Man burning in hell, begging Lazarus for water. Of course I would never really want that for my boss, it was something of a “THAT’S WHAT HE REALLY DESERVES!” moment of anger and I confessed it as a sin because it wasn’t just a random thought, it was an uncharitable thought that came out of pure anger. That’s a situation where it was emotionally driven, lacking in charity and not just some intrusive thought randomly coming out of nowhere.

 

[CaptainPrudeman]

The thoughts are driven by an animosity for the person’s actions, but I never really truly hope that they were damned. I really hope they were saved.

 

[Ardent_Fire]

Gotcha, I’d say that there are times when we can’t help emotions and moments of temptation, I suppose it’s a matter of how much we are entertaining the thoughts that come up, too. It doesn’t sound like you really wanted to entertain this happening. In my case I was REALLY angry and holding to the sentiment longer and with greater intensity than I really should have.

 

[Kei]

Perhaps when you notice the thought, say in the middle of it, “I hope this person is in NOT hell, but Heaven”
And pray for them.

Don’t look at it too much. A thought is not you. Especially an intrusive one. God knows what is right. It’s not like you can send someone to hell by hoping for it anyhow

 

[steve-b]

I’m aware that we can never truly know if someone is in hell or not, but I keep having rather intrusive thoughts about a specific someone being there. How can I stop? It’s rather uncharitable, especially because I know God mourns for souls lost to hell, and I don’t want to take joy where He is saddened.

People technically by their actions send themselves to hell. God validates and sees to their permanent division and direction.

If you’re thoughts are going there for some specific person who has passed on, ask God for grace for yourself and that person. If they are in a place where grace will do them no good, then God will use your prayer for another soul who CAN benefit from your prayer.