“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.” — 1 John 4:18 NIV

Fearfulness is usually something we experience when we are worried about a loss, suffering pain, or some type of major setback. We fear the unknown when the unknown could mean harm. It doesn’t have to be a guarantee of harm because just the imagination of harm is enough for fear to creep up and cripple us. Fear hinders our performance, fear destroys our happiness, and fear paralyzes our confidence.

Love, on the other hand, is an expression of protection, trust, and hope. Love trumps fear and is much like light to the darkness. Where there is light, there can be no darkness. Where there is love, there can be no fear. Where there is love, the unknown does not conjure up a sense of worry about harm because we know that love “does not delight in evil” (1 Corinthians 13:6 NIV).

Perfect love is of God and it is found in our relationship with Him. Just as the love in our marriage relationship makes facing the future easier because it’s done together, so does the love in our relationship with God takes away the fear of facing the unknown. Living each day with God is living without fear of what may bring harm.