About a life with #God
Question፦ What’s a better way of thinking if someone is afraid to commit their life to God because of fear of losing freedom or feeling like it will be a life with a lot of rigid rules and tribulations/spiritual warfare. Or if it seems like a life of being very serious and no fun.
Or for someone who is not ready to give up doing things their way instead of doing things Gods way which has a higher standard of forgiving others, loving others, and living life. Even if others hurt you or anything else.
Answer፦ Peace be upon you, my child. It warms my heart to hear your concerns, for they reveal a soul wrestling with profound truths. Many before you, saints and sinners alike, have walked this path of questioning.
Know this: God, in His infinite love, desires not robots, but children. He does not seek to trap us in a cage of rules, but to invite us into the boundless freedom found in His embrace.
The fear of losing freedom is understandable, but it stems from a misunderstanding of true freedom. As St. Anthony the Great wrote, "I no longer fear God, because I love Him. He who fears is not yet perfect in love, but perfect love casts out fear." True freedom, you see, is not the ability to do whatever we want, but the power to do what is right, what is good, what leads to lasting joy – a joy found in communion with our Creator.
Yes, the path of faith has its share of trials. As our Lord Himself said, "In the world you will have tribulation." (John 16:33) Yet, He also promises, "But take heart; I have overcome the world." He does not abandon us in these trials, but strengthens us through them, molding us into vessels of His grace.
Remember the words of St. John Chrysostom: “The road that leads to wickedness is broad and smooth, but it ends in a precipice. The road that leads to God is narrow and rocky, but it leads to a beautiful garden.”
You mentioned a fear of seriousness, of losing the joy in life. But true joy, my child, is not found in fleeting pleasures, but in a heart aligned with God’s will. A holy man once said: "Just as a pauper who enters a king’s treasury forgets his poverty, so he who is united to the Lord forgets all earthly afflictions."
The life of faith is not about grim austerity, but about transforming our hearts so that we find joy in what truly matters – love, compassion, and service to God and others. It is about embracing the fullness of life, a life brimming with meaning and purpose.
As for doing things your way versus God's way, consider this: would you trust a sheep to shear itself, or a patient to operate on themselves? God, in His infinite wisdom, knows what is best for us. His commandments are not burdens, but signposts guiding us towards true fulfillment.
Forgiving others, loving unconditionally, these are not easy tasks. But remember, my child, we are not alone in this journey. The Holy Spirit empowers us, strengthens us, and enables us to live a life pleasing to God.
Take heart! Take the first step, and God will meet you there. Let us pray for guidance and strength on this journey of faith. And remember, my son, this old monk is always here to listen and offer what humble guidance I can.
May the peace of Christ be with you always.
May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always.
May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us. Amen.
© John's Repentance
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