by Pastor Wendall Ward
It started in the beginning. After he had sinned, Adam doubted God’s love. Genesis 3:10 says… [Adam speaking] “I heard your voice in the garden, and I WAS AFRAID because I was naked; and I hid myself.” NKJV
Then Job confirms that fear affects us. Job 3:25… [Job speaking] What I FEARED has come upon me; what I DREADED has happened to me. NIV
Finally Job finds his strength. Believing in the power of the love of God, Job 4:10-11 declares… [Job’s resolve] “The roaring of the lion (FEAR) Band the voice of the fierce lion (ACCUSATIONS), and the teeth of the young lions are broken. 11 “The lion perishes for lack of prey (IGNORANCE & LIES), and the whelps of the lioness are scattered. NASU
The Entrance of Fear
Fear is one of the oldest wounds in the human heart. From the beginning, it has taught us to hide, to run, and to guard ourselves from the very love that seeks to heal us. Like a shadow waiting in the soul, fear often rises in moments of uncertainty and pain, whispering doubt where God is speaking peace. It can put the run in our feet and steal the rest God has provided for our souls. Over time, fear can become so familiar that we mistake it for wisdom, when in truth it is often a wounded response that keeps us from the healing words we most need to hear.
The Heart on the Run
Fear was born in a garden; in the shadow of uncertainty, where the heart began to question the goodness of God. Fear doubts love. It feels threatened by love. It runs from real love and reaches for lesser comforts that can numb the ache for a moment but cannot bring the soul home.
From the beginning of mankind, fear has sought to distort humanity’s love connection with God and drive our hearts away from His presence. A heart on the run struggles to receive redemptive words of love from the heart of the Father, yet His voice continues to call us out of hiding and into rest.
Mercy Meets Us in Hiding
God came into that hiding place, not with condemnation, but with mercy. The finished work of the cross is His loving answer to every fearful heart. His amazing grace moving toward us when we could not find our way back to Him.
Coming Home to the Father’s Love
At the turning point of history, from the hill of Calvary, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” In His death and resurrection, He carried our sin and conquered death. Jesus opened the way for fearful hearts to come home to the Father.
That day, love poured out from that hill like light breaking over a darkened world. The light of that love has continued to shine through every generation. It’s the radiance that is quieting fear, lifting dread, and leaving the righteous glowing with the love of God. Love exposed fear’s lie. It established love’s truth. The Word proclaims “God so loved the world…” That truth will remain like a witness of light set on a hill until the end of all things.
Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
To all of us who have received that love into our hearts, He now says:
Our Love Grows More Perfect
(1 John 4:16-21 NLT)16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So, we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
Love Has No Fear
18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other because he loved us first.
Love One Another
20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we do not love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters”.
Coming Home to the Father’s Love
In the greatest expression of love the world will ever see, the cross of Jesus Christ, God’s voice calls out once again. “Where are you?” To every heart still hiding, He does not call with anger, but with love. When we answer that call, His perfect love begins to quiet the fear that has crippled us and fills us with the love that perfects us (Romans 5:5). Then our hearts can come to rest in His presence. From that place of rest, a new life begins to emerge. A life empowered by love and faith. And the joyful expectation that God has given us “a future and a hope.”
Today, the Father’s invitation is still open. You do not have to remain hidden, afraid, or distant from His love. In Jesus Christ, God has given the greatest gift: forgiveness, restored fellowship, and eternal life. If your heart hears Him calling, receive His love by faith. Come out of fear and into the arms of the One who gave His Son so that you might not perish but live forever in Him.