The character of God brings peace when anxiety overwhelms. These attributes of God Catholic teaching reveals God’s true nature for anxious Christians.
In a world of constant news, pressure, and change, many of us feel worn out. Work stress, family struggles, health fears, and the weight of the world can keep us up at night.
Therapy tools and self‑help can be very good. But there is a deeper question underneath:
The Character of God: Who do you believe God really is?
The Catholic Church, drawing from Scripture and the Catechism, teaches that God is unchanging, loving, just, merciful, and actively present in our lives. The NRSV and NRSVCE Bibles show this in story after story. As a psychologist and Christian mindset coach who has walked through anxiety, depression, relationship pain, and seasons of doubt, this is what began to heal me: not a perfect life, but a truer picture of God.
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In this post, I’m sharing five parts of God’s character that bring comfort when your emotions are all over the place—and how this connects with what psychology knows about the mind.
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1. God Is Close to the Brokenhearted
The Bible says the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18, NRSVCE). Jesus promises, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
That means God is not far away watching your struggle like a movie. He is close. He sees the late-night tears, the numb mornings, the moments you say, “I can’t do this anymore.”
Why this matters psychologically:
Feeling safely connected calms the nervous system. When a child knows a caring adult is near, their body can relax. Adults are similar. When we practice trusting that God is close and paying attention, our body doesn’t have to stay in constant “threat” mode. Anxiety may not vanish, but it becomes more workable.
2. God Is Patient and Slow to Anger
Scripture describes God as “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Psalm 145:8–9, paraphrased). The Psalms repeat this again and again: God is kind, compassionate, and not quick to explode.
Many of us carry an inner picture of God as easily irritated: one wrong move and He is done with us. Often this comes from our story—harsh parenting, critical authority figures, or spiritual environments that focused more on punishment than mercy.
Why this matters psychologically:
Constant self-criticism keeps the brain in a threat state. Compassion, on the other hand, helps us learn and change. When we realize that God Himself is patient with us, it becomes safer to be honest about our struggles. We can say, “I failed here,” without falling into “I am a failure forever.”
3. God Is Just and Merciful
The Bible holds justice and mercy together in God. The prophet Micah sums it up: God asks us “to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly” with Him (Micah 6:8, paraphrased). The New Testament says God, rich in mercy, brings us to life with Christ even when we were dead in sin (Ephesians 2:4–5, paraphrased).
For survivors of harm, it matters that God takes evil seriously. He does not shrug off abuse, betrayal, or oppression. For those heavy with guilt, it matters that His mercy is wider than our sin.
Why this matters psychologically:
We need both. If we only believe in justice, we may live in fear. If we only believe in “niceness,” we may never name real wrong. A balanced view lets us say, “What happened to me matters,” and “What I have done can be forgiven.”
4. God Is Faithful and Keeps His Promises
Lamentations speaks of God’s mercies being new every morning and of His great faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22–23, paraphrased). The New Testament says that even when we are faithless, God remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13, paraphrased).
Many of us know the pain of broken promises—by parents, partners, leaders, even church communities. It is easy to quietly expect God to do the same: to leave, to withdraw, to give up on us.
Why this matters psychologically:
In attachment theory, a secure base helps people explore, grow, and handle stress. When you slowly trust that God remains for you and with you, your soul has a secure base. You can risk new steps, honest prayers, and deeper healing, because you are not afraid He will walk out.
5. God Reveals Himself in Jesus
The Catechism teaches that Jesus Christ is the full revelation of the Father’s heart. The New Testament calls Him “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) and says that whoever has seen Him has seen the Father (John 14:9, paraphrased).
This means we do not have to guess what God is like. We can look at Jesus:
- Jesus touching lepers and eating with those others avoided.
- Jesus calming storms and weeping with the grieving.
- Jesus forgiving His killers and opening paradise to a dying thief.
Why this matters psychologically:
Psychology tells us our image of God is often shaped by our early caregivers. If those experiences were painful, the inner “God picture” is often harsh, rejecting, or absent. Letting the Gospels rewrite that picture gives your heart and brain a new template. Instead of a vague, angry God, you have a concrete image: Christ, who moves toward the hurting.
How This Connects Everyday Healing
This is not just nice theology. It is deeply practical.
When your thought says, “I’m alone in this,” you can answer, “No, God is close and attentive.”
When shame whispers, “God must be sick of me by now,” you can remind yourself, “He is patient and slow to anger.”
When fear shouts, “The world is chaos and no one sees what’s wrong,” you can rest in, “God is just and merciful.”
When despair says, “Everyone leaves,” you can hold on to, “God is faithful and keeps His promises.”
When confusion says, “I don’t know what God is like,” you can return to, “God has shown Himself in Jesus.”
Want to Go Deeper?
If you’d like guided reflection questions, Scripture reading homework, and journaling prompts for each of these five truths, I’ve created a free downloadable PDF companion to this post.
[DOWNLOAD FREE PDF: “5 Truths About God’s Character” Reflection Guide]
In the guide you’ll find:
- Deep reflection questions for each attribute of God
- Bible reading homework with journal prompts
- Stories of how real people experienced these truths
- Space to write your own discoveries
- Prayers to pray as you practice
Closing Prayer
God,
You see my mind, my emotions, and my story.
You know the places where I feel anxious, low, angry, or numb.
Thank You that You are close and attentive,
patient and slow to anger,
just and merciful,
faithful and steady,
and that You have shown Yourself in Jesus.
Please gently correct the false pictures of You that live in my heart.
Let the truth of who You are sink into my thoughts,
my nervous system, and my daily choices.
Teach me to rest in Your character,
to think from Your truth instead of my fear,
and to walk each day knowing I am seen, loved, and never alone.
Amen.