Love Casts Out Fear

By receiving God’s Spirit, we are freed from fear.

 by: chioma anuebunwa, director of student support

As I reflect on my journey of faith, I recall my days of fear. Whenever I was invited to a meeting, I would be consumed with worry. Every little noise startled me. I was terrified that someone would snatch my children at the mall if I didn’t hold them tightly. Fear gripped me in almost every aspect of life, tormenting my thoughts. I found myself overreacting and overanalyzing every little detail.

To the glory of God, my days of fear are long gone. What changed? I realized that as I began to walk with God through prayer, fasting, singing praises, and personal Bible study, I was transformed in ways that only scripture can explain. One of the most profound changes I experienced was the release from fear, which God has graciously placed in my past.

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Scripturally speaking, there is a time to fear and a time not to fear. How do we discern when to fear and when not to fear?   

A Time to Fear

King Solomon, in his wisdom, expands on the message that there is a season and time for everything. As the book of Ecclesiastes progresses with great wisdom, Solomon concludes in the penultimate verse of the final chapter:

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments.”
(Ecclesiastes 12:13, NKJV)

Clearly, the fear of God is a righteous and worthy form of fear, one that should be accompanied by obedience to His commandments. But what is God’s ultimate commandment? Beyond the Old Testament’s Ten Commandments, Jesus was asked in the New Testament about the greatest commandment. He summarized it as follows:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
(Matthew 22:37-40)

Reflecting on my season of fear, I realize that although I feared God, I did not fully keep His first commandment - to love Him with my whole heart, soul, and mind. My mind was preoccupied with other things instead of God. For example, my choice of music did not glorify Him. My thoughts were often consumed with personal interests such as family, education, career, and travel. Instead of dedicating time to study God’s Word, I focused on academic pursuits, earning degree after degree. While these pursuits are not inherently wrong, my heart, soul, and mind were so engrossed in them that I failed to dedicate time to truly love God.

A TIME NOT TO FEAR

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
(2 Timothy 1:7)

When we set our hearts on loving God and walking with Him, His Spirit, which is not of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind, begins to dwell in us.

By receiving God’s Spirit, we are freed from fear. We learn to walk with Him and trust Him completely because He is righteous.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
(Isaiah 41:10)

In the most challenging circumstances, we must trust God and lean not on our own understanding. In everything, let us cast our burdens on Him. Times may be difficult, but God is greater than our problems. Whether it is the fear of financial instability, not providing the right education for our children, losing a loved one, failing in our endeavors, or any other fear, it all comes down to trusting God with every aspect of our lives.

no fear in love

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”
(1 John 4:19-21)

“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’”
(Galatians 5:14)

Demonstrating sincere love for one another is how we express our love for God. Rather than allowing our minds to be consumed by personal challenges or worldly concerns, we should reciprocate God’s love by loving one another and dedicating ourselves to the things of God - prayer, praise, fasting, and studying His Word. Knowing that our words have power, the next time fear tries to creep into your heart, here is a song of praise to declare and help you overcome the spirit of fear and embrace God’s Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind:

I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God...

You split the sea so I could walk right through it

My fears are drowned in perfect love

You rescued me, and I will stand and sing: I am a child of God.

(No Longer Slaves - Bethel Music)