Sucker Punch – Overcoming Fear - Tuesday
Today’s Verse
1 John 4:16, 18
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them... Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love. (NLT)
How much do you trust God? I’m embarrassed to admit that my level of trust in Him is often related to how much control and certainty I have at any given time. I can trust Him when my plan seems to be working. I can trust Him when the outcome looks favorable. But in the absence of those things, I can so easily trade trust for fear. You would think the less control and certainty I had, the MORE I would trust Him! It doesn’t always work that way.
Our level of trust in God can depend on how we see or relate to Him. Repeatedly in ministry, I have encountered people who were raised in churches where God was portrayed as angry and reluctant to forgive. Who would feel safe and desire to grow in that relationship? This view of God as the angry judge as opposed to the loving Father creates an inability to trust, and only fosters fear. Fear is generally informed by experiences of the past, an upsetting reality in the present, or a pending threat in the future. Maybe even a combination of all these. We’ll know we’re growing when our fears from the past, in the present, or the future are replaced with trust in a God who is in all of those places and still very much in control.
REFLECTION
As I’ve been writing today’s devotion, a song from Southland Music called “Trustworthy” keeps replaying in my mind. It seems fitting to end today with a portion of it:
In the darkest of days
I will still bring you praise / You are Trustworthy
When the world has demands
On Your truth I will stand / You are Trustworthy
When I can’t seem to see
A clear path for my feet / I will listen
I will run to your throne
‘Cause You call me Your own / You are Trustworthy / Trustworthy
