There is No Fear in Love by Minnie Lee

by Rachael Adams | Sep 22, 2022 | The Love Offering Guest Blog Series

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 ESV

It’s early in the morning, before my day starts. I’m quiet before the Lord – or am I? Actually, my mind is busy and loud, with thoughts of “what if it all goes wrong? I don’t know anyone and they don’t know me – would they listen to me? How do I make sure I do everything right? I hope my client doesn’t regret hiring me…” During my time with God, all I could think about was a very important meeting later that day, the first time meeting with my client’s advisory board to kick off a strategic planning project that will pave the way for them to expand and scale for the next five years. I was so honored and thankful to be given such an important and exciting project by one of my favorite non-profits in San Francisco. On the other hand, I found myself desperately asking God to help me make sure that everything goes well, because of the fear that everything will not.

I felt a gentle tug from the Lord, as if he was asking me “what if things didn’t go exactly the way you wanted?” There is a perfection I’m pursuing. All the pressure is on me. Then, the verse popped up in my head, “perfect love drives out fear…” and when I opened my bible to that verse in 1 John 4:18, the word “punishment” jumped out at me. Fear has to do with punishment. My fear over my performance was already punishing me when my day hasn’t even started. And if my performance didn’t meet my perfectionistic expectations, I was also ready to punish myself.

A soft whisper nudged me, “do you know how much I love the people you’re going to meet today? Do you know how much I love what your client is doing? I want you to love them and serve them.” That moment, God freed me. He shifted my focus from myself to those he loves. And my work is to love and serve them, not to make a name for myself. And if God wants them to succeed, and he wants me to help them with that, then why am I killing myself in fear of things going wrong? I breathed out a deep exhale. I’m ready, Lord – do your thing.

When we let ourselves be led by God’s love, He shows us the big picture – the ultimate picture that honors God and all his people. When we let ourselves be led by our own fears, and for me my biggest fear is not being great at what I do and thereby disappointing others, what we do with all our might just end up being about ourselves. Thank God for his nudges! Thank God for his reminder how much we are loved no matter what, and out of that we can freely do what we’re called to do. Punishment stops right here.