Dealing with Existential Dread and Worldview Crisis Daily
Existential dread, characterized by a profound sense of fear and uncertainty about life, can manifest as a constant apprehension about one's existence and future [5]. This feeling can be exacerbated by a worldview crisis, where one's foundational beliefs are challenged or undermined. The apostle Paul, for instance, described being "troubled on every side" and "in jeopardy every hour," indicating a life fraught with continuous trials and dangers [3, 6]. Such experiences can lead to a state where one's "life shall hang in doubt," fearing day and night with no assurance of safety [5].
Christian theology offers perspectives on navigating such dread. John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, suggests that the cross serves to accustom believers to "despise the present" and "aspire to the future life" [1]. This does not imply shunning or hating the present life, but rather desiring the future life and being willing to depart the present at God's command [1]. This orientation helps to mitigate the infirmity of dreading death by focusing on an eternal hope [1].
The concept of perfect love is also presented as a remedy for fear. The Tyndale House commentary on 1 John 4:18 states that "perfect love expels all fear" [2]. As individuals mature in God's love, they gain confidence in facing judgment, which otherwise would be terrifying for those who do not know God [2]. This fear, rooted in a "consciousness of guilt," anticipates deserved punishment and produces a dread that is a foretaste of that punishment [2]. Christ's death is understood to free believers from this dread [2].
Furthermore, the renewal of the mind is crucial. Adam Clarke, commenting on Ephesians 4:23, emphasizes that believers must abandon their old way of living and adopt a new one, requiring a complete renovation of the mind and all its faculties [4]. This spiritual renewal helps to address the "poverty and dread" that can alarm the "innermost soul" [4]. Even disciples of Jesus faced moments of profound doubt and fear, as when Jesus predicted their scattering, causing their faith to be shaken [7]. However, the continuous presence of trouble and the need for constant reliance on God are recurring themes in biblical thought [3, 8].
Sources
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 64: 2025 CHAPTER 9. OF MEDITATING ON THE FUTURE LIFE. The three divisions of this chapter,—I. The principal use of the cross is, that it in various ways accustoms us to despise the present, and excites us to aspire to the future life, sec. 1, 2. II. In withdrawing from the present life we must neither shun it nor feel hatred for it; but desiring the future life, gladly quit the present at the command of our sovereign Master, sec. 3, 4. III. Our infirmity in dreading death described. The correction and safe remedy, sec. 6. Sections . 1.”
- 1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 4:18: 4:18 perfect love expels all fear: As we live with Christ and grow more mature and complete in God’s love, we have confidence in facing the day of judgment, which will be terrifying for those who don’t know God (Acts 24:25; Rom 2:16). • Based on consciousness of guilt, fear anticipates a deserved punishment, producing dread that is itself a foretaste of that punishment. Christ died to set us free from this dread (Heb 2:14-15).”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 4:8: We are troubled on every side,.... Or afflicted; , either "in every place", wherever we are, into whatsoever country, city, or town we enter, we are sure to meet with trouble, of one sort or another; for wherever we be, we are in the world, in which we must expect tribulation: or "always", every day and hour we live, as in Co2 4:10 we are never free from one trial or another: or "by everyone"; by all sorts of persons, good and bad, professors and profane, open persecutors and false brethren; yea, some of the dear children of God, weak believers, give us trouble:”
- Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 4:23: And be renewed in the spirit of your mind - Their old mode of living was to be abandoned; a new one to be assumed. The mind is to be renovated; and not only its general complexion, but the very spirit of it; all its faculties and powers must be thoroughly, completely, and universally renewed. Plautus uses a similar expression describing deep distress, and answerable to our phrase innermost soul: - Paupertas, pavor territat mentem animi. Poverty and dread alarm my innermost soul. Epid., l. 519.”
- Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 28:62: And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee,.... Whether it shall be spared or not by the enemy: and thou shalt fear day and night; being in continual dread of being killed: and shalt have none assurance of thy life; of its being continued a moment scarcely, but live in constant fear and expectation of its being taken away.”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 15:28: And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? Not only they that have suffered martyrdom for the faith of Christ, and for this article of it, have acted very injudiciously and indiscreetly; but we, also, who are on the spot, whether ministers or private Christians, must be highly blameworthy, who continually expose ourselves to dangers, and are for Christ's sake killed all the day long, are every moment liable to innumerable injuries, tortures and death; who in his senses would act such a part, if there is no resurrection of the dead? such, as they must be of all m”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 16:32: The hour cometh - Ye shall shortly have need of all the faith ye profess: ye now believe me to be the Omniscient; but ye will find difficulty to maintain this faith when ye see me seized, condemned, and crucified as a malefactor. Yea, your faith will be then so shaken that ye shall run away, each striving to save himself at his own home, or among his kindred.”
- Numbers (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Numbers 14:34: 14:34 each day: Cp. 13:25. • to have me for an enemy: Cp. Ezek 5:8; 21:3.”