Do Not Fear

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 NIV

Fear.  Even the mention of the word causes some people to shut down. Some become debilitated. Some thrive under fear. They love the feeling of pushing themselves to their limits. Some learn from fear, while others crumble under fear. We all respond to fears differently.  

As a 5 -year-old standing at the top of a black diamond ski trail, fear overtook me. That is one of my first memories, and also a moment where I learned to trust my dad. You see, my pops had my brother and I on skis as soon as we could walk. By now I had been on skis for almost three years. He had taught us how to turn, how to stop, and how to have a good time!  But this was a black diamond. The most difficult terrain the resort had to offer. And here I was looking down on it with the experts only sign posted beside. I was nervous, I was scared, honestly I didn’t know if I could do it. But my dad believed in me, so much so that he was willing to bribe me with a Matchbox car on the way home. I will never forget my mom saying, “Terry, you can’t bribe your own kids,” and him saying, “Watch me.”  He knew I could do it, he had spent years getting me to that moment. I couldn’t let my own thoughts overtake me, right? I just kept having to remind myself, “My Dad believes in me and that’s what matters.” As we started down the slope he just kept speaking to me, “I am right here with you. You got this. One turn at a time. Focus on me.” It was his words, his encouragement, his preparation, his love that got me to conquer that fear.  

Now as an adult and a believer, I think back on that and realize how many times in life God is saying the same thing to me. “I’ve prepared you for this. I am not going to let you go through more than you can handle. I am right here. Focus on me.”  Yet in the midst of our fears, we allow our own thoughts to take over. “I can’t, what if, it’s too much, what if he doesn’t come through.” In those moments what voice is loudest? Our Father’s? Or our own?

“Do not fear” and “fear not” are two of the most found statements in Scripture.  Is that a coincidence?  I have to believe God knew what He was doing in continually repeating himself over and over. “Do not fear, I am with you, peace.”  

“Perfect love casts out fear.” Focus on that today. God’s perfect love. He is with you. One turn at a time, one day at a time, focus on Him.