A Love that Casts Out Fear
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.
1 John 4:18 NKJV
Her life on earth was ending. Despite our multiple attempts to gently correct the legalistic, merit-driven faith of her childhood, this woman we loved rejected the idea that salvation was found by grace alone. Instead, she clung to the idea that she needed to earn her way to heaven.
She couldn’t comprehend a God who fully knew her and unconditionally loved her. Her hope was that her “good deeds” would outweigh her “bad deeds” and she would pass the test of righteousness on judgment day. This misplaced hope caused her to be paralyzed with fear as her health declined. Our words failed to convince her, so our prayers begged God to open her eyes to see the beauty of Jesus Christ and release her from the burden of thinking salvation depended on her goodness. In God’s kindness, He answered that prayer, as only He could do. (Keep reading to find out how.)
Fearing the Lord vs. Being Afraid of Him
Have you ever considered the difference between “fearing” the Lord and “being afraid” of the Lord? The most frequent command found in the Bible is “do not be afraid.” Yet we’re also told that the fear of the Lord is where all knowledge begins. The only way to reconcile these two truths is to understand the difference between an unhealthy fear that causes us to flee from the Lord and a healthy fear that magnetically draws us close to Him.
Being Afraid of the Lord
“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God.” (Genesis 3:8 NKJV)
The first consequence Adam and Eve experienced after sinning in the garden was shame. Their shame immediately led to fear. The God they had experienced sweet fellowship with became the source of their fear and they tried to hide from him. They misunderstood who God was. They assumed He loved like they did—conditionally, selfishly, harshly.
Their misunderstandings about the very nature of God caused them to dread His presence rather than enjoy it. God did allow them to suffer the consequences of their sin, but he also affirmed His tender, faithful love for them by seeking them out to continue their relationship. God’s response to their misguided fear of Him was mercy. Could it be that our God isn’t nearly as harsh as we imagine Him to be? If we are truly His children, we don’t need to be afraid of Him. We need to understand the depths of His love for us.
What Is the Fear of the Lord?
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” (Proverbs 1:7 NKJV)
What does it mean to fear the Lord but not be afraid of Him? The fear we need isn’t a fear that terrifies us but is better explained as love. It’s an intense love for our Lord that draws us to Him. It’s as powerful as a magnet pulling us toward the nail-scarred hands that made a way for us to enter His beautiful presence. It’s a small fraction of the love He has poured out on us returned to Him. His perfect love (for us) casts out our (unhealthy) fear of Him. The irony is that when we truly fear (deeply love) Him, we are free to live without fear of anything else.
This healthy fear is a natural response to understanding how deep our Father’s love is for us. It’s a genuine sorrow for the price Jesus Christ paid to reconcile us to our Father. When we truly see His love and mercy for us, we desire nothing more than to be with Him. That “love” is the “fear” we need. It’s rooted in a humble recognition of His holiness, beauty, glory, and grace coupled with our lack of those attributes. When we see the stark contrast between Him and us, we are amazed that He loves us. Our hearts overflow with gratitude, and there’s no place we’d rather be than nestled up against the God whose beauty and love are too great for our finite minds to understand.
Clarity in Love
The terror our loved one had when contemplating death was replaced with excitement. When her dementia had left us hopeless about her ability to understand our words, God intervened. In a rare moment of clarity, she told us she met “the most beautiful man” last night. And He assured her He would soon bring her to His home. She didn’t understand because she hadn’t been “good enough.” But she knew He loved her and she loved Him. We were able to tell her that was all that mattered. She smiled and said, “That is very good news.” A glimpse of His perfect love immediately cast out her fear.
Once again, I stand amazed. This is our God!
In His Word
“I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn away from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.” (Jeremiah 32:40-41 ESV)
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:14-16)
In Your Life
Review some verses in God’s Word that mention the fear of the Lord and replace the word “fear” with the word “love.” Does that help you better understand what it means to live in “fear” of the Lord but not afraid of Him? God doesn’t desire us to dread His presence but to love Him, trust Him, rest in His goodness.
We Recommend
Known & Loved by Glenna Marshall. Discover more about the affections of God through this book that guides us through the truth of God’s knowledge and love for us in the words of Psalm 139.
Living Fearless by Jamie Winship. If you desire to live in freedom from fear by abiding in Christ, this book leads you through the steps of that process—leading you to live courageously in fear of the Lord and nothing else.
Let’s Connect
Brenda is a Certified Biblical Counselor and owner of Living Water Holistic Biblical Counseling. She has served in ministry for 25 years and is the Director of Women’s Ministry at her church in Casper, Wyoming. She cofounded Women of the Way, an online ministry created to encourage women through all seasons of life to cling to hope they have in Jesus Christ. Brenda plans and speaks at women’s conferences, retreats and events, writes scripts, devotionals and blog posts about the love of Jesus Christ and what it means to walk intimately with Him. She and her husband, Pete, have six children, three grandchildren and enjoy all things outdoors in her beautiful home-state, Wyoming.