The Perfect Love of Jesus Casts Out All Fear

1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

Ever since I was a teenager I have loved going for long walks late at night. A stroll along deserted streets at 2:30-3 a.m was a good time for me to think. Then one night three years ago, the way of the world caught up to me and I was beaten and ro.bbed by two gang members. I was fortunate that the police had already been looking for them and were able to interrupt the beating and arrest them. (Who says there is never a cop around when you need one?)

I walked away from that incident with three things: a few bruises, a new respect for police and a case of post traumatic stress disorder. It was my first encounter with violence and being in a potential life and death situation.

After that night, I stopped going out for walks late at night and was paranoid of pretty much everyone. I started carrying a knife with me wherever I went, but the fear was still there. I took up martial arts, but still the fear remained. I went to counselors, but still the fear remained. I felt deep shame at my cowardice and that just made me even more aware of it, which kept me focused on it and unable to break free of the fear.

Then I one day I just gave it all to Jesus, I confessed my fears and my shame and Jesus took it all away from me. He cut the fear out of my heart to the point that I am able to walk late at night free of the fear that had gripped me. I no longer carry any weapon (except my faith) and I no longer fear every person in the dark. He even removed my fear of heights while He was at it, as I discovered the other night while volunteering at my church. Jesus and His perfect love cast out all my fear and brought me one step closer to unity with Him.

The Holy Spirit keeps bringing to my mind Psalm 91: 

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. ‘Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.’ ”

Just as Jesus cut away my fears, He can do that to any problem of the heart, He can and He will if you just ask.

Do you need Jesus to cut away a problem of the heart, or do you know someone who does? If so go tell them about what the Lord can do if you just ask.