Do you want to be a better lover of the Lord and of people? Scripture provides us with the insight to a mature and complete love.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:17-19
Sometimes, we use our childhood experiences as a reason for not fully trusting or believing in God. We tell ourselves that our lack of trust stems from not having a perfect earthly example of love. However, this is an excuse that keeps us tied to the past.
If Jesus has made us new, then our past no longer holds the same power or control it once did when we were apart from Him. He can transform even our understanding and perspective of the past.
Interestingly, psychologists use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which involves helping individuals reframe their past experiences and view them differently—through a lens of greater understanding and maturity.
If human methods like CBT can help reframe our perspective, how much more can God’s perfect love renew and restore us? His love doesn’t just reframe our past; it redeems it, giving us the strength to move forward without fear.
Let us seek His perfect love to mature us, so we may love both Him and others without fear.