LOVE > FEAR

This summer, as I’ve walked around my neighborhood, I’ve noticed my neighbors putting messages in chalk on their driveways and sidewalks. I love words, so I notice the messages right away and am always curious to see what people choose to write. I even started putting chalk messages in my driveway too. I’ve said things like “Choose Joy,” and “Be Kind”. Just short messages to try and encourage those who walk by my house each day. Today I wrote out the equation “LOVE > FEAR”.

There is a whole truck load of fear in our world today. No matter what your views are on all of the hot button subjects...fear abounds. The worst decisions are made when we base them on fear. I’m reminded of how often Jesus/God says the words “Do not fear…”. Obviously our human condition is prone to live in fear.

The cure...the way out of that life, and the anxiety and stress it causes, is through love. Perfect love casts out fear. You can apply that truth to any situation you face, personally, as a community, nationally, and even globally. There is a better way. It’s the way of love.

When I read Psalm 23, the verse that jumps out at me right now is verse 4, which says, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me.” There are certain verses and songs that often get repeated at our times of greatest loss. Psalm 23 is one of those chapters. It’s the perfect picture of the presence of Jesus in our darkest moments and how simply knowing He is there, is enough to get us through.

When my husband, Mark Jackson, passed away back in 2007 I chose a song along with my daughters to play at his funeral along with a slideshow of pictures we had made. The song I chose was a Mark Schultz song titled, “He Will Carry Me”. 

The lyrics of the chorus are:

“And even though I'm walking

Through the valley of the shadow

I will hold tight to the hand of Him

Whose love will comfort me

And when my hope is gone

And I've been wounded in the battle

He is all the strength that I will ever need

He will carry me”

I have no idea right now what all is going on in your corner of the world...but I know the reality of the presence of Jesus and His love in your life is enough, and will always be enough. You can count on Him. He never leaves or forsakes. Through pandemics and elections and economic problems and childcare issues and whatever else might be going on in your world...Jesus love is greater...always.

I hope that’s a comfort to your heart and soul like it is to mine.

Ruth