I noticed it first when I was a teenager. During class at church, I would joke around about God zapping us if we messed up. The jokes faintly veiled a false truth I believed in my heart–God would get me if I messed up.

This thought process continued on as I grew older. During my senior year of college my then boyfriend move to Tennessee so we could get to know each other better. While I was excited to have him there with me, I was also anxious about the “what-ifs.” What if we mess up? What if we went too far? I felt like everyone was watching and assuming the worst.

My stress over the situation was to the point that I would not go into his house for any reason. I didn’t want to mess up and face the consequences, but I think it also came from stress over getting zapped by God. I didn’t want Him to be disappointed in me and angry with me.

Then on November 3, 2001, I stood on the porch of my old 1920’s dorm watching a sunset and waiting for Jeremy to come pick me up for dinner. For some reason the thought occurred to me, “He’s going to propose tonight!”

That evening he made his best dinner, Mexican casserole, and afterwards I sat on a picnic table on his back porch with my head laying on my arms. He sat down beside me and when I open my eyes and looked down I saw the ring! I looked up at him and he ask the question every girl longs for, “Will you marry me?” Of course I said, “Yes!”

My hubby-to-be had set up something for me in his house and wanted me to come inside just for a minute to see it. But because of my desire to stick to the rules we (read me) had set in place, it took a full five minutes before he convinced me to go inside.

When I did, I saw he had set up candles on a table with a card. I read it gave him a quick hug and got out of there pretty quickly.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t have rules in place, but what I am saying is that our fear over God’s anger shouldn’t be the motivation behind our rules. It shouldn’t keep up from fully living life. Jesus took God’s anger and wrath on himself on the cross. If you’re a Christian, it is no longer yours to carry. Paul writes in Romans:

But God demonstrates his own love for us: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” ~ Romans 5:8-9

You have nothing to fear from God’s anger. Rest in that truth. {Tweet that!}

As we dive in this week to The Search for Significance chapter 8: Propitiation, think about the case McGee lays before you and the obstacles he gives for us failing to believe this truth. Allow yourself to agree with what God says, and watch as the stress slowly begins to melt away and is replaced by something much greater–Hope.

Let’s grow together! Start the conversation in the comments: What are some of the common results of living in fear of God’s wrath? How do you see it in your life? 

Additional Resources:

A side note, this week’s Workbook section is divided into two parts and is much longer than usual. It will take additional time and you may need to work on some of it during the weekend. Don’t rush! This is good digging deep information. Give yourself the time you need to process it. If you get behind a few days, we have another break around Thanksgiving for you to catch back up. *wink*