Fear, shame, doubt, worry – what do they all have in common? They are all negative responses to problems in life. Fear is about danger. Doubt is a fear you have or may have done something wrong. Worry is continually fearing the worst outcome. Shame is the feeling that you are wrong and worthy of punishment.
Today I was at a funeral and found myself worrying about things that were not my responsibility; what people might be thinking of me, and going over things from the night before. The thing that centered me was God’s Word and God’s love. I reminded myself that ‘all is well’ and that ‘God loves me’. The more I study the love God has for me, the less afraid I become.
“There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].”1 John 4:18 AMP version
