Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden22 Apr 2025

Episode 17: The Fear of God

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🏜️ Welcome to Desert Fathers in a Year, Episode 17: The Fear of God.

In this episode of Desert Fathers in a Year, we explore the profound teaching of Abba Peter on the "fear of God." Far from nervous anxiety, this fear is a reverent awe of God’s divine majesty, as Abba Isaiah’s wisdom explains that true fear of God arises from trusting Him alone. Drawing from Isaiah’s vision of God’s glory and the refining fire of faith, we unpack how trusting God in hardship—illness, loss, or betrayal—leads to redemptive purity. Discover how the Desert Fathers guide us to balance childlike trust with worshipful reverence.

Key Topics Covered:

Abba Peter’s definition of the fear of God as trust in God alone
Isaiah’s vision of divine glory and its transformative impact
The refining fire of faith: Trusting God amidst life’s trials
Balancing reverence and trust in the Christian spiritual journey
Lessons from the Desert Fathers on awe and worship

Why Listen? This episode offers deep insights into the fear of God as reverent trust, perfect for those seeking spiritual growth, Christian wisdom, or understanding early Church teachings. Join us to explore how faith transforms fear into awe.

Keywords: Fear of God, Abba Peter, Desert Fathers, Christian spirituality, trust in God, reverence, Isaiah’s vision, faith in hardship, early Christianity, worship

Available On: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts

Please visit DesertFathers.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and to download a free PDF of Athanasius's Life of Antony.

We owe a special thanks to our partners. Desert Fathers in a Year is...

• 🦉...written by Bishop Erik Varden. You can follow Bishop Varden on his blog.

• 🎥 ...produced by EWTN

• 🧡...and brought to you by Exodus 90, download the Exodus 90 app today

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