I finally met one of my most significant mentors in person. For two years we’ve been on video calls because of COVID (he lives in the US). Last week he stayed at my house.

As we talked and walked and ate together, stories of his long life following Jesus bubbled up to the surface. Yes, they was some crazy stuff. Inspiring, encouraging, uplifting. It was obvious that he had pursued intimacy with God with incredible intentionality for many years. It felt like I would share whatever, and then he would share straight from the middle of the heart of God 🙂

What really struck me, though, is that he sees fear not as something we try to work through, but as our enemy. He refuses to give in to fear. I can’t count how many of his stories had a machine gun in his face, guards surrounding him, someone threatening to kill him, or an angry mob chasing him.

God has led him into many dangerous situations to confront the powers of this world with love. It makes sense, because when you’re not afraid of people, you can really love them. And if you are afraid of them, then you can’t really love them.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. – 1 John 4:7-8

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. – 1 John 4:18

Fear opposes love. And love drives out fear. They’re opposites. I find this very convicting. I’ve put up with pockets of fear in my life, not realizing that those are the places where I’m not letting God’s love in, not letting God in. Doing the opposite!

Hmm… I’ve felt for a while like God wants me to blog daily, but I’m in an unusually busy season and I feel like I don’t have time and I don’t want to write things that aren’t really great. Or… I could not be afraid of what y’all think and just obey Jesus. So… here goes!