I hate to admit it, but fear has played a big part of my story. Not only has it played a part in my past, there are times fear affects my life even now. Whether it is fear of the unknown, fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of missing out, or just a general sense of anxiety that comes from the stress of everyday life, fear seems to be my default in how I approach life. It can be so easy to fall into. Fear twists our view of what is real and what is true. And unfortunately, fear seems to be just one of those things that comes with living in a broken world.
Jesus says the enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy. He is the great deceiver. I can definitely see the enemy using fear to steal from me in those areas where I feel powerless and paralyzed by fear. When I allow fear to shape my thinking and my decisions, I am listening to a lie. Whether from the enemy or just my own human condition, fear takes fullness from my life.
The good news?
We have a loving Father. If you really think about it, this isn’t how we often think about God. We normally think of Him as someone who sets a bunch of rules and is simply waiting for us to mess up so He can punish us for being such awful sinners. But God is love. I John 4:18 says:
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
Those areas in my life that I feel fear and allow it to make my decisions for me are areas of my life that I have not been perfected by love. As I have learned to see God as a loving Father instead of an angry dictator, I have learned to receive His love in the areas of my life where I once listened to those feelings of fear. Because Jesus took on the punishment for our sin, we are able to approach God as a loving Father. 2 Corinthians 1 calls God the God of all comfort. Being perfected by His love will be a lifelong journey for me. But as I continue to be open, honest, and raw with the Father, the walls to those areas of my heart are broken down, allowing the love of the Father to come in and drive out fear, bringing His comfort.
Moving Forward
I encourage you to be real with God. Admit your fears to Him. Tell Him the areas of your life you are afraid to fully trust Him with. Ask Him to show you those areas and help you lower the walls surrounding those parts of your heart. His love is so gentle and patient. Let Him comfort you this week, bringing His perfecting love to the places you feel fear.
By Gregory Plooy: Past Adventure Guide of Rock-N-Water
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