There is No Fear in Love

Have you ever had a moment, at any point in your life, when you were in a restaurant or a public place and you bowed your head and closed your eyes to pray feeling so vulnerable or exposed?

You are opening your heart to profess your love to Christ, in front of many who may not believe that He truly exists.

I know there were many moments early on in my walk that I wanted to peak out the corner of my eye while praying to see if anyone was watching. I never thought too much further into it, because as I have grown in my walk with Him, it no longer matters who sees me praying because He is important to me. But the other day, had a moment of vulnerability as I sat down to eat and pray alone in a restaurant, like I used to have early on in my relationship with Christ. And for a moment, I was concerned who was watching me as I prayed. And it puzzled me, so I asked the Lord, “where is this coming from?” I have no need to be concerned because I love you and I know you have me covered. I just sat with this thought for a moment with my eyes closed. And then the Lord said very gently to me, many times it is hard for human beings to be truthful about how they feel, believing that they are more susceptible to harm when being honest.

We fear being hurt, especially in front of others. If something goes wrong in our lives while loving a God that we know in our hearts, but no one can physically see, it makes us even more visible. It brings to light what we live and walk by in faith.

Having faith in God, something, or someone, when there is no tangible evidence for it, is a risk. And there is a possibility that you will be criticized, laughed at, talked about, and more but because we trust, we are able to open our hearts to take a step forward.

A lot of times we do not step out on faith because we are thinking, “Will I be accepted?’ “ Will I be loved?” “Will someone hold me up in my time of need?” “And where is the physical evidence of it all?”

When we do not believe that we have something strong and substantial to remind us of Christ’s [someone’s] love for us, it can be frightening.

When all we have is what people have told us about Him, it can be frightening.

When all we can do is base His love off of what we see in others lives, it can be frightening.

You want to trust and believe because the person’s spiritual conviction is so strong in their lives but there is no physical evidence, it can be frightening.

Sometimes all people believe they have are small clues that advocate who Christ is in their lives, and His interest in them but not a concrete and solid something that they can put their hands on with their human mind. This not knowing and lack of tangible, touchable, proof can make one feel abandoned, victimized, and insecure. So they do not take a risk in loving what they cannot physically see because it is not logical, so why take a chance when one does not know if He is going to respond?

These are only small nuggets of reasons why we should take a chance on God:

“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us His Spirit as proof that we live in Him and He in us.” -1 John 4: 12-13 (NLT)

“All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them” – 1 John 4: 15-16 (NLT)

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” -1 John 4: 18

His love is never forceful, and He loves us through all of our doubts, fears, and questions.

Now that is a great love!

As my good sister friend would say, “Get to know Him!”

About the Author :

Francine E. Ott is truly thankful to have a relationship with God and is seeking Him daily for guidance and any opportunities to walk closer with Him in truth and love. Francine is a choreographer/dancer, teacher, and soon to be counselor who has a heart to see God's transforming power, renew, restore, and heal the minds, souls, and bodies of people's lives.

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