“perfect love casts out fear.” first john 4:18

ever wonder why it’s written that way?
“perfect love casts out FEAR.”
why fear?
why not hate? injustice? sin? evil? loneliness? death?
i think it’s because fear is at the
the root of everything opposite of love.
hate? fear of being controlled.
bitterness? fear of injustice.
jealousy? envy? fear of no provision.
anger? fear of being wrong.
guilt? fear of no forgiveness.
vengeance? fear of no accountability.
loneliness? fear of being invisible.
prejudice? fear of being outnumbered.
and those are just a few.
as opposed to love…
gratitude > thankful Love chooses to give.
generosity > experiencing Love’s provision.
trust > watching Love keep its promises.
faith > believing Love exists, the seen and the unseen.
lack of vengeance > trusting Love to act justly.
lack of guilt > celebrating that Love paid the price.
joy > realizing Love is eternal.
hope > remembering that Love never ends.
peace > confident that Love is sovereign over all.
so it seems i might be struggling with a good bit of fear.
i don’t much like that.
then again, i’m filled with the perfect love of Jesus.
and i very much like that.
i sure do.
because that perfect love inside me?
that perfect love throws down fear.
THROWS. IT. DOWN.
(stop here and do your praise dance)
so God, when fear threatens….
remind me
of the perfect love of Jesus
that throws down fear
making all kinds of room
for perfect love
to rise up and fill me
from the inside out.

“whatever was gain to me i count as loss for the sake of Christ. i count ALL THINGS AS LOSS in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…..that i may know Him…and the power… and the fellowship…” philippians 3

the companionship of Jesus.
it’s a real thing.
i know, because i’m walking in it.
every. single. day.
my years in nashville have been the most lonely in my life.
not sure why.
they just have been.
and continue to be.
but God…
the companionship of Jesus sustains me.
on those days i think i am losing it.
like… about to crack….wide open.
afraid to even let myself cry.
for fear i won’t be able to stop.
won’t be able to recover.
the companionship of Jesus is there.
when i feel it.
and when i don’t.
His presence is there.
because He says it’s there.
“peace I leave you. My peace.”
“I am the true vine. remain in Me and I will remain in you.”
“I know My sheep.”
“and lo, I am with you always. even until the end of the age.”
are you struggling?
are you in the midst of a painful season?
lonely?
hurting?
suffering loss?
discouraged?
be encouraged.
let the companionship of Jesus sustain you.
CHOOSE TO BELIEVE what He says is true.
will your season change?
it might not anytime soon.
mine hasn’t.
but God…
reminds me that He is there.
with me.
so i have peace.
and great joy.
yes.
GREAT JOY.
because of
the companionship of Jesus.
from the inside out.