Freedom and Phobia

Fear.

It keeps us from so much.  It infiltrates our minds with thoughts of inadequacy that fuel our belief of worthlessness.  It burrows into our hearts and ignites a twinge of worry when we are asked to be real with those close to us.  It hides itself in our religion and tells us that no one would accept us if they knew the real us, not even God.  It is a destroyer of authenticity and freedom.  It is a liar.

I have lived a life of fear.  One that drove me into the arms of addiction as fear convinced me that dealing with the depth of my pain was too much to bear.  It built up impenetrable walls around my heart, reinforced by broken promises and voices of condemnation.  I believed every lie that fear told me, holding white-knuckled to the addiction, bitterness, distrust, and toughness I thought would bring me release from the emptiness fear planted within me. 

I felt helpless.

I felt alone.

I believed that I was a victim.

That’s another lie that fear tells us; that we are powerless.  That we are the victim.  It offers us self-pity as a remedy but it only holds us captive, tightening fear’s shackles tighter and tighter around us. We are not powerless.

We are loved by the One who fashioned the universe with his words… even when we are afraid of Him.  We are treasured by Perfect Love, the essence of love itself.  Fear has no power here. 

It’s time we were brave.  It’s time to risk the shattering of our hearts for the sweet taste of freedom.  It’s time we dared to believe in that Perfect Love.  Even if our first steps are labored, our knees shaking with uncertainty, and the voice we use to cry out to Him is nothing more than a squeak of timidity, we must choose to believe in that Love. 

Then something glorious will happen.

Fear will be driven out!

It will flee yelping in pain as Perfect Love overcomes us with whispers of worth and a promise of perfection.  Fear has no power here.

Soon we will become beacons of honesty beckoning the broken to our shores.  We will find peace in the ability to be real with those around us and discover that we aren’t as alone as we once believed. We will embrace our moments of failure as Perfect Love assures us that we are without fault.

Dare to let Perfect Love drive out your fear.  Jump first and fear later.  Take heart in the abundance of grace that is lavished on you right now.  Live fearless.

There is freedom on the other side of fear.

By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love. We love because he loved us first. ~1 John 4:17-19 (NET)