Tonight, I'm reminded of being twelve years old, having just moved into what would be my home for years. At night, I would lie in bed, staring out of my bedroom window, as I often do today, just daydreaming. At that age, I was so full of wonder and compassion, but I was also a little shy.
As I grew older, that shyness turned into full-blown fear that would wage an incredible war against my soul. Fear that would control my every decision. Fear that would cripple me and minimize my dreams and desires. Fear that would force me to hold on to the very secrets that made me sick.
My fear convinced me that it was much bigger than the amazing things God had planned for my life.
Fear is a liar. It gives you the sense that you're in danger, that your very being will be destroyed if you dare to step outside of what makes you comfortable. The irony lies in the fact that giving in to your fear is what really destroys you. Each time we allow fear to call the shots, it grows in our lives. With each moment we spend in disobedience to what God has asked us to do because we're afraid, we create an altar for fear in our hearts. Fear has become our god, because it has the final say in our lives.
Fear is a terrible god. With fear as the lord of your life, you can never really trust, and you can never experience real love.
What's amazing about God, however, is that He embodies perfect love. He is love. Love is defined by Him and the ultimate sacrifice that He made for us. When we allow Him into our hearts, the first thing He does is establish His love for us. He fills us with it, knowing that it will in turn heal us and make us whole. And as His love is slowly revealed to us, as it changes us from the inside out, as it compels us to trust Him with our lives- fear diminishes.
God's perfect love casts out fear. His love wins. It is bigger and stronger than the spirit of fear or anything else that tries to control our lives.
“There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror!”
1 John 4:18a AMP
