Fear
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love." —1 John 4:18
What destructive decisions are made from fear?
John was writing to Christians during a time of persecution. Their future was uncertain; members of the faith were losing their homes and possessions, and some would soon lose their lives. They were struggling to hold onto faith. So what was John's solution? Love.
Understanding God's deep love for them and sacrificially loving one another. First, John 4:18 says that faith in God's love and love for one another will scatter fear until it is of no consequence. So, what does choosing faith and love instead of fear look like?
It looks like:
- A man who is tempted to "alter" a business deal so it will work in his favor chooses instead to pause, take a deep breath, and trust God to take care of his needs.
- A spouse who feels their marriage is on the verge of collapse but decides to focus on loving their family well that day demonstrates the patience of the Father.
- A young person who is under pressure to let go of personal standards for acceptance, choosing instead to risk their friendships by holding to their values.
- A young adult who's accustomed to living by instinct and making decisions based on wants and fears learns to turn everything over to Jesus instead.
Having faith in God's love and loving one another well is especially hard when fear is trying to take over, but it is the key to dispelling that fear. You can either make decisions out of fear that perpetuates more fear, or you can make decisions out of love that cast out fear.
How can you choose love over fear this week in your own life?