For many years, I’ve been told, via words from God himself, that perfect love casts out fear; and I’ve continued to wonder, relentlessly, why I cannot seem to find a way to live life down here with less fear and more freedom. And it occurred to me as I read a book yesterday, written by who is probably my favorite contemporary faith-focused writer (Philip Yancey), that I obviously have not yet fully believed and accepted the fact that I am perfectly loved; because, had I done so, I wouldn’t be so darn full of fear.
Yancey’s writing reminded me of a simple fact that I often forget–we tend to view God through the lens of our own life experience. So, the way that we’ve found ourselves loved by those around us over the course of our lives is more often than not the way that we choose to believe we are loved by God. We forget God’s not one of us. As I’ve said more than once when I’ve spoken to groups, I do not believe that we will ever be completely free of fear down here, until the new Heaven and earth arrive that is; and I do believe that God shows us how much he understands this by how many times he addresses fear in Scripture (which is hundreds of times). He knows we will fear, yet he knows we don’t have to; and we should know we are never alone in our fears, whatever they may be, rational or irrational. Though even those who care most for us are often dismissive of the fears that plague us, God does not love like they do.
Yes, I want and need to fear much less down here. But, to do so, I must continue to remind myself that I am loved more than I can even fathom–I am loved by the very One who put this planet in motion and the very One who has the power to still this realm completely, forever, or for just one moment here and there so that I can gather myself together and continue to move forward. True freedom does indeed come from remembering this, remembering who God is and how God loves–and remembering that, regardless of how well we have or have not been loved in our lives down here, there has only ever been one embodiment of perfect love, and that is the Christ of God.
[FYI: The title of the Yancey book I’ve referenced is Reaching for the Invisible God.]
No, we need not panic, worry, or be in fear, yet we are human and we experience all. God understands this and loves us enough to help us through these times even when we are in the very grip of such emotions. Younger generation often say about someone “He/She Rocks. WOW ON WOW. Does God ever Rock!
Thank you, Anne, for reading and writing! I always appreciate your thoughts–they are so full of life, just as you are:).