Can anxiety lead us to God?
In a compelling episode of The Catholic Gentleman, host John Heinen explored an intriguing connection between anxiety and spirituality.
His guest, successful business owner and devout Catholic David Kruse, shares his personal journey from an anxiety-ridden adolescence to spiritual rebirth.
As a troubled teenager, Kruse sought solace in music and battled substance abuse. However, a remarkable encounter at a music festival transformed his path.
“It was like the Lord saying, ‘David, where are you?’ …I immediately felt sober… I knew I had to get out of there,” Kruse shares.
Inspired by this profound experience, Kruse made a commitment to daily prayer, marking the beginning of his spiritual journey. Yet, it was not a straightforward path.
Anxiety, often seen as a debilitating mental health issue, was for Kruse a past “addiction.” This led him to mindfulness, journaling, and an embrace of the present moment.
“If I can actually just engage in what I would now call ‘the sacrament of the present moment’ … it goes away, that narrative actually just starts to go away.”
Kruse’s story provides a unique perspective on mental health within the Church and promotes a discourse on faith’s role in mental health recovery.
“We pray because it’s a conversation with Christ. We pray because God is seeking after you. That is how we grow in holiness.”
Kruse leaves us with a powerful message: “Don’t miss any opportunity you have to grow in Holiness.”
Let’s view our hardships not as barriers, but bridges to a closer relationship with God!
