There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18.)
Yesterday my dog was terrified. Thunder, lightning, hail, rain, wind, and darkness were all he knew. He tore at our front door again. He drooled and howled. He paced, whined, and barked.
But then I came home. And he wagged his tail, smiled at me, and relaxed. He laid on the ground and if he were a cat, he would have been purring. The thunder, lightning, hail, rain, and wind continued. But for some reason my stupid dog loves me. And when I was with him, his fear left.
And he’s just a dog.
This same phenomenon can happen to us.
Maybe a spring storm doesn’t scare you, but something does. You don’t need me to remind you of your fears. They are as attention grabbing as any bad weather. Even the fears you don’t speak of can paralyze you. Fear wants to push all other things from your mind and heart. Fear attacks joy. Fear attacks peace. Fear attacks hope. Fear attacks duty. Fear attacks rest. Fear attacks focus. Fear attacks perseverance. Fear attacks everything. Fear wants to overwhelm everything so that all we think we can do is paw at the door, drool, howl, pace, whine, and bark.
But then, Jesus.
But then, Jesus’ love.
The Love He has for us, and the love we have for Him.
There are so many logical reasons, theological reasons, and thoughtful reasons that this is true. But today I am reminded of my illogical, soul-less, and mindless dog. Love cast out his fear. Even IMperfect love cast out his fear.
It’s not always our thinking that needs adjusting. It’s not always our understanding that needs adjusting. It’s not always the careful connection of cause and effect that brings fear’s end.
Sometimes, it’s just Jesus. He loves me. I love Him.
My dog is a tiny example of how HUGE and REAL and PROFOUND the love of Jesus (in both directions) really is.
His perfect LOVE casts out fear.