“We know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love . . . because God’s perfect love drives out fear.”1 John 4:16, 18 (NCV)
I’ve talked to hundreds of people about why they don’t fully trust God. Usually it’s one of three things: People are afraid that if they give their lives fully to God, they’ll lose their freedom, they’ll lose their fun, or God will turn them into some kind of religious fanatic.
None of that sounds inviting!
The bottom line is, people are afraid. We’re afraid to trust God completely. Yet God has an answer for our fear of trusting him. The Bible says, “We know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love . . . because God’s perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:16, 18 NCV).
God loves you. You were created as an act of his love. Over and over in the Bible, God makes this clear. God thought you up and created you to love you and to let you love him.
The greatest expression of God’s love is Jesus. God came to earth in the form of a human being to show us what he is really like. He then showed us how much he loved us by dying on the cross.
The cross tells us once and for all that we can fully trust God. We can trust him with our lives because he gave his Son’s life for us.
If God is telling the truth in his Word that he loves you, then you know he won’t take away your freedom or your fun or turn you into a fanatic.
God isn’t a cosmic killjoy. He’s your heavenly Father.
The more you know God, the more you trust him. Why? Because you’ll see all around you—in his Word, in your life, and in the world he created—all the evidence of how much he loves you. And as your love for him grows, your fear will diminish.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
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