What Does 1 John Say About Fear?
Two years ago I sat at my dining room table during nap time with a friend. We talked about fear. Her dreams were dust in the ground. Literally. Burying a baby can make fear a permanent fixture in a heart. I struggled with words. We cried together, remembering a little boy less than a year old. If I had only known her through social media, text messages, or from conversations in public, I would have never guessed the fear. I would have seen smiling pictures and fun times with her husband. The occasional Facebook memory revealed some of the grief.
It makes sense: the grief, sadness and even depression. As she gripped her coffee mug at my table, tears sprinkled down her cheeks. Fear was the most powerful emotion present in the room. And it was so well hidden from the world. The silent enemy threatening her faith was fear.
My friend is one of the bravest people know. Her courage was evident that day because it was wrapped around her trust in a God who remained faithful, even when He covered her path with sadness. Her faith inspired me. It shone like a light in the darkness. As she opened her heart I saw the fear too. Together fear and faith lived together. It was on that day I learned the truth: fear and faith can live together, but one would win in the end.
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” I John 4:18
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- Listen to the Spirit. (I John 4:1-2). If we are believers, the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts. His voice is sometimes quiet, but it is there. We can let the Spirit help us discern what is true and what fear is telling us. Learning to hear truth takes practice. My friend stood faithful because she refused to believe the lies of the evil one. Instead, she fought to listen to the Spirit of Truth.
- Love One Another. (I John 4:7-8). Reaching out to those around us and speaking love into their hearts will help quiet fear. When we pray for the ones who are hurting, we find healing for our own hearts. Love is something given, not hoarded. I saw this as my friend drew closer to her husband and they poured love into each other.
- Let Christ Dwell in Us. (I John 4:15-16). The Gospel doesn’t have implications for just our salvation. It is a daily reminder of the communion we have with God. Christ lived in this world and has overcome the greatest fear – death. The hope of heaven is the only way my sweet sister in Christ was walking upright and not hiding in bed. Her faith in a heavenly future was only possible through a daily walk with Jesus Christ.
It’s ok to feel fear. We don’t need to feel ashamed for finding fear in our hearts. Let the voice of God, the loving voice of a Father and faithful Judge, comfort us in our fear. Don’t let fear have the final voice in your heart. Listen. Love. Let Christ dwell there instead.
