by Kate Holt, November 2026
There are obstacles to our relationship with the Divine that prevent us from seeking spiritual support. These obstacles are unnecessary, yet they exist. Unless we work to address them, they will continue to interfere with our ability to experience a healthy, meaningful, and ongoing relationship with the Divine.
I want to talk about three obstacles in particular: fear, anger, and shame.
1. Fear
Fear often comes from having been taught that God is something to be afraid of—that God is punishing and ready to condemn us at any moment if we are not perfect.
Yet we are human. We know that we are not God, and as human beings, we must recognize that we are imperfect.
If we were created by God—whether you believe in creation, evolution, or some other understanding of how we came to be—I believe that somewhere in that process, there was a Divine spark.
And if that Divine spark created us with our imperfections, why wouldn’t those imperfections be okay?
Perhaps our imperfections are not something to fear, but simply part of what it means to be human.
2. Anger and the Freedom to Feel
The second obstacle is believing that we don’t have permission to experience and express all of our feelings in our relationship with the Divine.
Think about it. If the Divine spark lives within us, and we are human beings capable of a broad range of emotional experiences, why would only certain emotions be acceptable?
Why would we be allowed to bring praise, joy, and requests for help to God, but not anger?
If we are going to come to the Divine with all of who we are, then anger must have a place in that relationship, too.
I believe that when we give ourselves permission to experience and express all of our feelings, we open the possibility for a deeper relationship.
This is true in our relationships with other people, and it is equally true in our relationship with the Divine.
Authentic connection requires the freedom to bring our whole selves into the relationship.
3. Shame
Some of us carry shame about something we have done in the past. Others carry a deeper belief that there is something fundamentally wrong with who we are—that we are somehow unworthy of communicating with the Divine.
This, too, is an obstacle that needs to be worked through.
The belief that something about us is unforgivable seems to bring us back to the image of a God we must fear—a God who might condemn or punish us.
If you are carrying shame, you may need support in learning to forgive yourself.
You may need support in allowing yourself to express the full range of your emotions in your relationship with the Divine.
And you may need support in challenging the belief that God is something to be feared.
Our upcoming workshop, From Shame to Honor on December 12 &13, 2026 is a great place to start the healing process. Learn more and REGISTER HERE.
These are important areas of personal work because they can profoundly affect our capacity to experience spiritual connection.
My Personal Experience
I wanted to mention these obstacles because I know them personally.
At times in my life, I held back in my relationship with God because I was angry about what was happening in my life.
And there have been times when I felt ashamed or afraid.
When I have worked through these feelings—and I recognize that I may need to work through them again—I have experienced a deeper connection with the Divine.
I have felt more supported, and that connection has brought greater ease into my life.
It has also allowed me to respect myself more deeply and to command the respect that I know I deserve.
Deepening Your Relationship with the Divine
If you find yourself struggling with any of these obstacles, working with a Core Energetics Practitioner can be a great support.
We each have a unique relationship with the Divine, and it is deeply personal. A Core Energetics Practitioner can help you work through some of the obstacles—particularly fear, anger, and shame—that may interfere with your ability to experience that connection.
Create Space for Deeper Connection—You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
If old beliefs, unresolved emotions, or feelings of unworthiness are getting in the way of your relationship with the Divine, you don’t have to work through them alone. A Core Energetics Practitioner can support you in exploring these obstacles as part of your personal growth.
Find a Practitioner or explore our Practitioner-in-Training Directory for more accessible session rates.
