Perfect Love Casts Out Fear and Worry

I’m sure I’m like the rest of us when I say I’m bad about fear and worry. No matter how much I KNOW my life is in Gods hands and he always provides, I still get caught in worry. When that happens, I think we are not necessarily driving God away, but we are certainly keeping him at bay. “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.”1 John 4:18 Most Christians do not consider their worrisomeness a hindrance to God’s transformative work in their lives, but they should. Fear can be paralyzing, especially in the face of spiritual challenges.For non-believers, succumbing to fear reflects self-doubt. For believers, however, it can indicate a lack of faith in God’s absolute power, providence, and goodness. In the words of Jesus, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” Matthew 6:27Don’t forget, last week we talked about the command to be courageous…Be Nice. Grace wins.