…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)
I can still remember the day I met William Shatner. I woke up that morning, with the Star Trek theme in my mind and on my lips. I found myself talking like Captain Kirk. “Good morning… DeAnne… How did… you sleep?” I wore black pants and a yellowish shirt. My free time was spent wondering what he would say. I created at least eight Star Trek puns. And used five of them.
I am sure that scary things actually happened that day. Germs congregated. Reputations were threatened. I spent more money than I made. Tyrants were hiding behind every drone. People were planning evil. I was tempted to sin more times than I could have counted.
But I didn’t notice those things.
Because I was thinking about someone else.
A spirit of fear only grows and matures into words or actions of fear when given the right environment. Looking around for ‘what is wrong today?’ will FIND what might be wrong today. Looking around for things to worry about will FIND things to worry about. Looking around for troubles will FIND troubles.
But a spirit of love doesn’t let fear germinate, take root, or grow. Because when we are loving we are looking noticing different kinds of things.
First, Jesus tells us that one half of love is putting other people high on our notice list. When we are purposefully loving, we notice the beloved’s joys and sorrows, needs and resources, hopes and fears. We are studying them, considering them, helping them. Done right, this doesn’t leave much time for fear.
But maybe when we notice the beloved, we notice things that make us afraid FOR them…
That is why Jesus gives us the second part of love: Focusing on God with our full heart, soul, mind, and strength.
If we are noticing GOD, there is nothing to fear. If we are focused on GOD, our fears become tiny. If we are focused on GOD, even our fear for our beloved is under His umbrella.
Looking at our Beloved gives us hope for our beloved.
Fear Not, Love.