How I Came to Trust God and Over Come Anxiety - A Testimony

Summary

In this heartfelt video, Amber Rose, known as the Religious Hippie, shares her personal journey of overcoming religious anxiety and learning to trust God after returning to the Catholic faith. She candidly discusses struggles with social anxiety, toxic friendships, and the fear of judgment, as well as the transformative power of prayer, devotion to Divine Mercy, and guidance from saints like St. Faustina. Amber emphasizes the importance of spiritual routines, self-awareness through examination of conscience, and prioritizing God over worldly opinions. She also encourages seeking therapy if needed, highlighting that faith and mental health can coexist on the path to spiritual growth.

Takeaways

• 😀 Amber shares her personal journey of overcoming religious anxiety after reverting to the Catholic faith.
• 😀 She initially struggled with social anxiety and distrust in God, fearing judgment from friends and family.
• 😀 Reading saints' lives, early Church writings, and Church documents helped her understand suffering and align her own struggles with God's plan.
• 😀 Establishing a daily prayer routine, starting with evening prayers, gradually strengthened her relationship with God.
• 😀 Using the 'binding prayer' helped her see toxic friendships for what they were and distance herself from unhealthy relationships.
• 😀 Practicing the nightly examination of conscience helped her recognize and work on pride, a key obstacle in her spiritual growth.
• 😀 A pivotal moment came when a priest advised her to say 'Jesus, I trust in You,' which deepened her devotion to Divine Mercy.
• 😀 She faced significant online hate as a Catholic, which initially increased her anxiety but ultimately strengthened her faith and courage to defend it.
• 😀 Reading the Beatitudes helped her understand that suffering and rejection are part of following Christ and encouraged her to prioritize God over the opinions of others.
• 😀 Amber emphasizes the importance of therapy or spiritual guidance for mental health struggles, alongside prayer and devotion, to support overall spiritual well-being.
• 😀 Despite ongoing struggles with selfishness and imperfection, she focuses on trying, growing in faith, and seeking unity rather than division.

Q & A

Who is Amber Rose and what does she focus on in her content?

Amber Rose, also known as The Religious Hippie, is a content creator who shares her personal experiences with faith, spirituality, and religious anxiety, particularly focusing on her journey as a Catholic.

What was the primary issue Amber faced when returning to her faith?

Amber struggled with religious anxiety and distrust in God, primarily due to fear of losing friends, being ridiculed, and feeling uncertain about her faith and knowledge of Catholicism.

How did Amber initially deal with her lack of knowledge about Catholicism?

She immersed herself in reading various religious texts, including early Church Fathers’ writings, the Catechism, Vatican documents, and saints’ stories to rebuild her understanding and connection to the faith.

What role did prayer play in Amber's journey?

Prayer, especially establishing a morning and evening routine, helped Amber gradually rebuild her relationship with God and gain clarity about her friendships and spiritual life.

What significant realization did Amber have about her friends?

Through prayer and reflection, Amber realized that many friends she valued were using her and were not supportive, leading her to separate from a toxic friend group and prioritize healthier relationships.

How did Amber confront her pride and its effects on her spiritual life?

By practicing the nightly examination of conscience, Amber became aware of her pride, recognized it as a barrier in her faith, and worked on addressing it, although she acknowledges it remains an ongoing challenge.

What helped Amber develop trust in God?

Guidance from her priest to pray 'Jesus, I trust in You,' studying Saint Faustina’s story, and devotion to Divine Mercy helped Amber gradually cultivate trust in God despite her anxieties.

How did social media impact Amber's experience with her faith?

Posting Catholic content on platforms like TikTok exposed Amber to significant hate and ridicule, which initially heightened her anxiety but ultimately strengthened her resilience and commitment to defending her faith.

What advice does Amber give to those struggling with anxiety or mental health issues?

Amber encourages seeking therapy when necessary, praying to Saint Dymphna for guidance, and finding a spiritual director or confessor to help navigate challenges in both mental health and faith.

What long-term goals does Amber have in her spiritual journey?

Amber aims to deepen her relationship with God, emulate saints like Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and Saint Faustina, help in converting sinners, prioritize her soul over worldly concerns, and ultimately reach heaven.

How did reading the Beatitudes influence Amber?

Reading the Beatitudes helped Amber understand the reality of suffering and rejection in following Christ, reinforcing that she should expect challenges but prioritize her faith over the opinions of others.

Why does Amber emphasize kindness despite past negative experiences?

Amber believes that even if people misuse or take advantage of her kindness, maintaining a kind and charitable attitude aligns with her faith and helps promote unity rather than division.