There are many things that could be said of the past two years, but right now this is what is on my heart.
It’s been two years since families have been together.
It’s been two years that people have been overwhelmed by fear.
Two years that have stopped many from living, and I’m not simply talking about death.
Fear does crazy things. We somehow think that we can control the uncontrollable. We hide and cower and protect ourselves. We quit seeing other people, both literally and figuratively. We quit sharing our lives and our stories. We shut down. And when that happens, we quit loving.
It’s been two years since many have loved well. I’m not talking about a fuzzy feeling kind of love. I’m talking about the kind of love that makes us seek out others. That makes us put others above ourselves. The kind of love that drives out fear.
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18
”Fear has to do with punishment”…
Is God punishing us with death? I mean that’s the fear the past two years brought up, right?! Is He punishing us?
As a believer, we have no need to fear death. We know what is waiting for us on the other side of our earthly/temporal body’s death. We will eternally be with the One who loves us best.
But even believers get scared. So then what? It’s what you do with that fear.
Do you quit living and loving and serving and seeking? Do you cower and let the darkness overtake you?
NO!
You run to God. You tell Him your fears and you fill yourself with His words that speak of His plans for you. You remind yourself of His promises that He will be with you in the hard.
Being a believer doesn’t mean absence of tribulations, trials, ailments, fears, death, but it does mean that God will be right with you in them. And if that’s true and you really believe He’s a good God, then you have no reason to fear and you can LOVE.
You can come out of hiding.
You can go hug your family.
You can restore that relationship.
You can seek forgiveness.
You can live. Truly live.
It’s been two years.
Two years is way too long to have missed out on what it means to be loved and to love well.
Don’t you think?