Struggling with Confidence Towards God? (Part 3 of 3)

Why do so many struggle with having confidence towards a loving God? 

Struggling with confidence towards a loving God often stems from projecting earthly experiences onto the divine, leading us to believe we must earn affection. When people face unanswered prayers or human suffering, it can feel incredibly difficult to reconcile pain with the concept of a completely loving Creator. 

Projecting Human Flaws: People often project the actions of imperfect earthly figures (like strict or absent parents) onto God. This causes the misconception that His love is conditional or performance-based, rather than unconditional.

The Problem of Suffering: Experiencing or witnessing trauma, loss, and tragedy makes it difficult to reconcile the idea of an all-powerful, loving Creator with the reality of pain and evil in the world.

Shame and Guilt: A focus on personal shortcomings, past mistakes, or feelings of unworthiness can lead to self-condemnation. This often makes individuals feel they should hide from God rather than approach Him with confidence.

Unanswered Prayers: When specific desires or prayers go unmet, it can breed doubt, leaving people feeling unheard or abandoned, which erodes trust over time.

Desire for Control: Human nature gravitates toward relying on what we can see, manage, and understand ourselves. Surrendering control to an unseen God can feel unnatural and uncomfortable.