The Love That Drives Out Fear

I've been thinking these last few days and weeks about friendship and about love. I've been thinking about life in Oklahoma City and how it seems so much richer and fuller these days than it did. As if I'm feasting--and finally realizing that what I once thought was feasting was actually famine.

It amazing how things change you--how even crisis and stress can seem bearable when you have friends and family that uplift and encourage you. Who can receive you with open arms, not arms burdened with their own insecurities about you. How, those qualities alone can make you brave. A friendship and kinship that pushes you out of you, that makes you feel worthy and safe. A friendship that makes you feel like you can do because there are people that already believe that you can.

I think that someday, I hope that is what I have with my future husband. A love that feels like feasting. A love that drives out fear. A love that makes you brave.

I am reminded of 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear..."