No Fear in Love – 1 John 4:18

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18

It’s difficult to not be able to fix everything. To be faced with a situation or a person that I desperately wish would change and yet know that it isn’t up to me. To know that there isn’t really anything I can do. Except pray. And trust in my God. Trust Him to be faithful. True. Just. Righteous. Holy. Gracious and merciful. Compassionate and strong. Powerful and sovereign.

Why is it so hard to leave these things in His hands and not worry about them? I suppose there’s doubt in my heart…wondering as to whether or not He is who He says, whether His Word really is true, whether He is as mighty and good as He says He is. But He can help me even here…and so I turn to the only resource I have to combat the questions and fear and pride: a prayer to the God of my life.

Please, Lord, break through the doubts in my heart. Burst into my soul with glory and truth. Make Yourself known as a fortress. Make Yourself known as the Holy One, as Truth and Light and Love. Because You are love. You even define it for us, so that we recognize pure love when we see it—patient, kind, not envious or boastful, not arrogant or rude, not insistent on its own way, not irritable or resentful, not rejoicing at wrongdoing but instead rejoicing in the truth. You said that love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things,” that love does not ever end (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

Your Word tells us that “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” Cast out our fear, Lord, in the glorious light of Your perfect love. Every fear rooted deep in our heart. Open our eyes to the lies around us. Remind us what truth is. “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:9-10). Whatever anyone else says about us or our situation, this is what You have stated—the One who knows us better than we know ourselves, the One who sees every piece of us.

You don’t promise that life or circumstances or people will turn out the way we want. But You do promise that You’re in control of it all. You do promise that You will strengthen, help, and uphold us. You promise that Your goodness and mercy follow us always. You tell us not to fear, not to worry, not to be dismayed, because we are held in Your hand and You will never let us go. Your steadfast love surrounds us and we walk in Your faithfulness. That is truth that will never change.