“For love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God for God is love. Beloved, let us love one another.” 1 John 4:7-8
Love is a thing so natural and organic to every one of us if we can just take our own focus off of ourselves; our compassion flows easily because we are all made in the image of God, and that is His nature. He is Love personified. He is our source. God literally created everything we see and feel and taste and hear and smell by the word of his mouth. He created life. We even borrow His Spirit; seriously, He gave that to us, too!
And not only that, but He continually holds all matter together so that it doesn’t fly apart. The atom has at its core two forces: A strong force that holds it together, and a weaker force that tries to tear it apart. The scripture describes this when it says, “For by him all things were created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, dominions, or principalities or powers: all things were created (past perfect tense–completed action) by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist (present tense–ongoing action).” Colossians 1:16-17
And after we betrayed God with his worst enemy in the Garden of Eden, God satisfied his own command, “Whoever eats from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil shall die,” in the most self-consistent, loving way possible, by sending his Son to die in our place so that we could live. The prophet Isaiah calls Jesus, who is God-made-flesh: “Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Edit: I have changed the above paragraph to conform to the Bible, by replacing “by dying in our place” to “by sending his Son to die in our place.”
He designed us, he created us, he redeemed us, and he wants us to be with him forever. That, in a nutshell, explains a little bit of why we never need to fear; we just need to love: “Love God and love our neighbor as ourselves.” Jesus gives us the power to do this by changing our stony hearts to hearts of flesh so that we want to love and can make the choice to reject fear.
Once we are transformed and empowered by love, we will find peace. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
Just don’t give in to the fear. Hold onto the present and trust God. Respond to His love, and love him back by loving others.
Worried because you realize that you are in the midst of a storm?
- Be present.
- Be thankful.
- Reject fear and embrace love.
- Find peace.
The Fullers Four 