Years ago we attended a fun outdoor family event with some church friends and their children. We rode a little train, admired the petting zoo, and enjoyed the morning. Later, light rain began just as we settled in a field to watch the Ronald McDonald show. We quickly ducked under our blankets to stay dry.
During the confusion, however, we noticed our second son had disappeared. We immediately scanned the area to see where he’d gone.
One of us happened to look toward the performance area and spotted him. Ronald had asked for two assistants from the audience, requesting eight-year-olds. Hearing this invitation, our son had rushed onstage!
Surprised to see a preschooler with the two older volunteers, Ronald fitted him with a pair of oversized sunglasses and asked,
“How many years have you been in show business?”
Our son answered, “Five.”
Incredulous, Ronald tried to clarify, “And how old are you?” …
to which our son replied, “Three!”
After the crowd’s laughter subsided, we watched an entertaining McRap performance by everyone on stage, after which our son ran back to our blanket, beaming.
Some people have no stage fright!
But most do. And that fear represents a host of fears that entered the world when Adam and Eve listened to the devil instead of believing God.
Two years ago I started to realize how often fear dominates my thinking. It surreptitiously weasels its way into my decisions. So I began a quest to track down any indicator of fear in my life.
I soon realized that this would be an ongoing investigation.
The devil’s primary tactic involves planting fearful ideas in our minds.
He uses fear to draw us away from God’s love. As my husband likes to point out,
Perfect fear casts out love!
When I worry about
- what others think of me
- whether they’ll talk with me
- how I’ll relate to them
…then I’m in fear.
When I fear someone, I’m not free to love them!
This applies to our relationship with God. If we believe God does not truly love us, or we doubt His kind intentions, then we’ll keep Him at a distance. If we dispute that Jesus is the express image of the Father, revealing God’s true character, then we’ll likely see God as angry and judging.
Without a revelation of God’s love, we fall into self-protection and distrust.
For this reason, God reveals His love for us throughout the Bible. He sent His Son to prove His love (John 3:16-17). He wants us to know and believe in His love (1 John 4:16). And He exhorts us to keep ourselves in His love (Jude 21).
1 John 4:18 explains,
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love casts out fear. . .
Knowing and believing God’s love is the antidote to fear!
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