We were coming back from a choir camp, and the bus dropped us off at school. I don’t know why, but I decided it would be a good idea to throw my Coke bottle into the school swimming pool. But as it turned out, the bottle didn’t land in the water; it struck the edge and shattered into pieces. 

Suddenly, fear hit me. I knew my first stop was going to be the principal’s office. And six of the best were waiting for me. 

I arrived home, almost in tears. My mother took one look at me and knew right away something had happened. My brother heard what was going on and came up with a plan: “I raised money to build that swimming pool years ago, but never got a chance to swim in it. Let’s go take a quick dip tonight, and then we’ll just pick up the glass.” 

That night, we quietly climbed over the fence, took a quick swim, and picked up all the pieces of glass in the swimming pool. The next morning, I walked into school with no fear. There was nothing at the bottom of the pool — no evidence. And just like that, my fear was gone. 

It’s funny how one little thing can unleash so much fear in you. But perhaps the greatest fear is not knowing where you’re going after this life. 

To get rid of that fear, you must live in a loving relationship with God and Jesus. Because where that love is, there is no room for fear. 

18Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.  

The principal and I never really had a good relationship. And when I think about it, it probably wasn’t even his fault. I let the relationship fall apart — just me, without him doing anything wrong. 

To this day, when I think of him, I feel that knot in my stomach — that knot of fear. I think it was because one important aspect of our relationship was completely missing: love. 

But in my relationship with God, when there is true love — His love for me, and my love for Him — this fear disappears. Then I know what Jesus did for me on the cross. Then I feel His love deep inside my heart. Then I’m no longer afraid of death, because I know: I will jump over that hurdle like a child who knows his father is waiting on the other side. 

True love drives out fear — and not only in our relationship with God, but also with each other. 

Why are so many marriages filled with fear? Why do children live with that knot in their stomachs? Why are friendships sometimes full of tension? Because love is absent. And when love is absent, fear grows like weeds. 

So, let’s make an effort. Let’s cut out the things that kill love in our relationships. Let’s make room for love, because where there is love, no one lives in fear. 

Scripture
1 John 4:7-21 

Reflection
Is there a relationship in your life filled with fear?
Is there a relationship in your life where love is missing?
How can you breathe love back into it? 

Prayer
Father, thank you that I can live in love with You and that there is no fear. Help me to fill all my relationships here on earth with love. Amen.