Fear or Love

We make our choices based off of fear or love. Almost all of our choices reflect either one of those two things. 

Friends, I thought before now that I knew the meaning of  "perfect love casts out fear." I now realize I didn't. And I want you to know now, not later. Folks, as doubt sets in, fear takes over; when you keep making your choices based off of fear, it's easy to keep doing it time and time again. You lose sight of love, and let fear in its' place. I've had several times recently that I told Jesus that if this is what the future will keep holding, I'm not sure I can handle it. That maybe I don't know enough. That maybe I'm not cut out for this. That maybe I should just quit now. That maybe somehow I heard Him all wrong. That maybe I should dream a little smaller. 

Do you see it? When we let fear lead, we keep making choices based off of fear. In His still small voice, He keeps telling me to make every step with love. And there will keep being enough of that. When I let love lead and let His love take over, there isn't room for fear. If I keep making my choices based out of love, it's a catalyst to keep going forward in love. Less doubt, less fear, and my life doesn't get so nearly off track. I want to be led by love. In my life, and the crazy things that occur, and the wild things I wish to accomplish, it doesn't work if I let even the smallest amount of fear in. I instantly crumble. Every thing seems suddenly too big and too scary.  There are so many things I wish I could tell you about, but unfortunately a public forum just isn't always acceptable. But let this try to take the place of a heart-to-heart: 

Access where you've let fear creep in. It's a sneaky little weasel. It's time to be set free. It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. You are not meant to live under fear's grip. You are meant to walk out love. And keep stepping forward in love. He's big enough to carry the fear, if you're willing enough to say yes to love. It's not easy. It may actually be the greatest choice, tied to faith. I don't know which comes first, faith or love, but I do know that one is almost impossible without the other. Fear is not faith. Which makes it real hard to choose faith if you're also not choosing love. 

I have only now just discovered this, and it keeps coming up over and over again. I never would have told you I had a problem with fear. I love adventure! I strive for change! By golly, I'm a seven on the enneagram! But life is hard. And grief is real. And life comes and goes. And I'm just now in a place and setting where I'm stuck with that reality. And the weight is heavy. But then there's verses like John 10:10. And it is all washed away. Because His love is real. And His love at its very essence gives life. And there's no fear in that.