Overcoming the Fear of God's Anger
For much of my life, I have carried a deep fear of God's anger whenever I messed up. I was convinced that every mistake, every failure, and every moment of weakness was met with God's wrath and disapproval. This fear was not just an occasional worry but a constant weight, making me feel as though I had to tiptoe around God, afraid of disappointing Him beyond repair.
I was often reminded of verses like Proverbs 9:10: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." I was taught that fearing God meant being afraid of His judgment, but I never questioned whether I truly understood what that fear meant in the context of grace.
Twisted Scripture and a New Perspective
Then I came across Twisted Scripture by Andrew Farley, and it completely changed my perspective. In his book, Farley unpacks the common misunderstandings many of us have about God, particularly the belief that He disciplines us with fear and punishment.
Farley explains that many Christians mistakenly think that God's discipline is about making us afraid of His wrath when, in reality, discipline in the biblical sense means:
Guidance
Correction
Love
He emphasizes that because Jesus took all of God's punishment for sin upon Himself, believers are not meant to live in fear of divine retribution. Instead, we are invited to experience God's grace and forgiveness fully, knowing that His correction is always rooted in love, not anger or condemnation.
Farley also addresses the Proverbs verse about the fear of the Lord. He clarifies that this fear is not about terror or dread, but rather a deep reverence and awe for God. True wisdom begins when we recognize God's greatness, His love, and His mercy—not when we live in fear of His wrath.
Misinterpreted Scriptures on Discipline
Farley also dismantles the idea that God is constantly testing us, waiting for us to fail so He can punish us. He highlights how verses that have been traditionally used to instill fear—such as Hebrews 12:6, which says that "the Lord disciplines the one He loves"—are often misinterpreted.
In their proper context, these verses reveal that God's discipline is not about punishment, but about training and shaping us like a loving father does for his child. This truth began to set me free from the crippling fear I had lived with for so long.
Learning to Run to God, Not from Him
Instead of running from God when I mess up, I can now turn to Him, knowing that He is full of grace, love, and patience. Reading Twisted Scripture has given me a renewed sense of love for God. I no longer see Him as a distant, angry judge but as a loving Father who delights in me.
I am learning to:
Rest in His grace
Trust in His kindness
Know that He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5)
The Power of Grace, Not Fear
One of Farley's most freeing ideas is that God's grace is not something to be feared—it is something to embrace. He challenges the notion that "too much grace" will lead to sin and instead shows how grace is the very thing that teaches us to live upright, godly lives (Titus 2:11-12).
This means I don’t have to live in fear; instead, I can live in the freedom of His unconditional love, knowing that I am secure in His grace.
Final Thoughts
For anyone who has ever been afraid of God’s anger, I encourage you to explore what Farley has written. The truth of God’s grace is more powerful than fear, and knowing Him as He truly is can change everything. God is not someone to run from—He is someone to run to.