There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. – 1 John 4:18a
This has been one of the most challenging years for many people. And one of the biggest struggles has been mental health. You may be reading this and thinking – that’s me! Well, you’re not alone. There are many who have and continue to suffer from fear, anxiety and worry about what the next corner will bring. This is not specific to non-believers, but it is a real struggle for many Christians. I’ll be transparent in saying I am one of those God-loving, Bible-believing, community-involved Christians. We are not immune to these things when we accept Jesus into our hearts. We have struggles – which is why we need the truth of God and the life-changing grace of Jesus to daily keep us from falling into sin and despair.
You are not alone. I see you, I hear you and I understand you. But you can live in freedom from those thoughts, those feelings and those dark places you’ve visited. When anxiety rose within me, the Lord reminded me of this scripture – there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18a).
When we understand that we are truly loved, there is nothing to fear. I am perfectly loved by Love Himself. And if I am perfectly loved, how can I fear anything in this world? I remember many times when I had to recite these words “Perfect love casts out fear, and I am perfectly loved so I have no fear”.
I know you might feel desperately hopeless and perhaps like you can’t get out of this place you find yourself in. But friend, let me tell you that you can. I know this with confidence because I have experienced it. It is a battle in your mind that you can overcome! Here are a few ways to begin this journey.
- Recognize where you are doesn’t have to be where you stay.
- Talk to someone you trust and tell them the ugliest things plaguing you. If you don’t have someone like this in your life, please reach out to me or another pastor on our staff. We are here for you.
- Cry out to Jesus! This was my saving grace – one night I let it all out. I got on my knees and literally cried out to the Lord. And in that moment He healed me, took the weight from me, and replaced it with peace and joy.
- Make it a daily practice to recite scripture (out loud), sing in worship and engage in community. Here are some scriptures to meditate on today.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
– Philippians 4:8“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
– Philippians 4:6-7“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
– Colossians 3:2“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ”
– 2 Corinthians 10:4-5“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
– Jeremiah 29:11“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
– 2 Timothy 1:7