A few years back, I heard a sermon in which the speaker was describing someone who was afraid of flying. That person never flew in airplanes.  When asked if he had any fear in his life, he would say “I don’t have fear in my life.” The speaker’s response to that person was: “No, you don’t have fear because you reduce your life to accommodate the spirit of fear.”

This really struck me!

How much life do I miss out on because I accommodate fear instead of overcoming fear?

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. 1 John 4:18

Fear can seem so difficult and scary to overcome, but this verse is saying that the way to overcome fear is to live in perfect love. Love displaces it. The Gospel always takes these seemingly impossible feats and makes them simple.

So Beloved, be loved.

Don’t feel discouraged because you haven’t overcome all your fears, but be excited because the way has been opened, and that way leads to fullness of life! There is so much more freedom to be experienced.