4:11 – Fearful Heart, Loving Heart

#faithbites #faithjourney heart

Setting

“Armed protests planned at all state capitols”

“2 Capitol Police officers suspended and another individual arrested for their alleged roles in riot”

“As the world begins its vaccination push, delayed rollouts draw criticism and concern”

These are just three headlines that I found in a quick search. I don’t know about you, but these are scary times indeed. My heart is filled with sadness about how things are turning out. Sadness and fear about how people think about what they think and how these thoughts can turn to deadly action.

I also see “ICU nurse throws baby shower for mother who survived COVID-19“. This story, despite the grim realities of COVID or anything going on, shows that love and hope can prevail. It truly doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, or what you believe politically. If you truly believe in Jesus and his teachings, you can be afraid and love. You can turn it over to him and shower others with love.

Only when we can follow the Love God, Love People commandment will we get out of this mess. Our world will never be perfect, the only way to that is through love, not through hate.

How are you feeling right now? Are you afraid? Are you still showing love?

Scripture

• 1 John 4:16 – And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
• 1 Peter 4:8 – Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
• Isaiah 41:10 – Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Reflection

God is love and loves us. He commands us to love. He tells us not to fear as he is with us. I know this to be true and believe it with all my soul. At the same time, my heart is heavy. I worry for my country, for our leaders, for law enforcement, and for our children. I try to reconcile the fear I have with the love God promises and that he will take care of all things. At the same time, he also commands us to be active.

This is a hard balance to strike. How are you feeling? What strategies are you using to still love even when you disagree. To still love even when someone is wrong?

Lately, I’ve been calling out people as wrong not as facts prove they are wrong. At the same time, I’m finding it’s not working. Facts aren’t facts universally anymore. I retreat to prayer for them. What I should be doing is going first to prayer, first to our father who loves us, rather than using this as a last resort.

I apologize for rambling tonight. I pray that you can find love in your heart for all people. That no matter how hard it gets in the next few days that our love of God prevails and we see each other as brothers and sisters and not others. This is how we defeat sin.

Prayer

Most Gracious God, I ask for your help tonight. Our country is facing turmoil from it’s own people, from this virus, and from sin. Please cast out the demons in the land. Heal our country and our hearts. Many people are struggling with balancing love for brothers and sisters and respecting the right to different opinions. We humbly ask you to make truth truth and make it shine for all.

Lord Jesus, you faced oppression, sin, and ultimately, death. You took away our sins. We ask your forgiveness for being fearful and striking out in words or actions against others. Please heal us, make us clean, and help us to show love first and foremost. In your heavenly name, we pray, Amen.