1 John 4:18 There is no fear In love but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
This verse is one of my favorites and has been on my mind lately. It’s hard for me to even fathom the overwhelming love that God has for each one of us. His love is perfect and has no boundaries. Jesus shows a great tangible example of sacrificial love that has no regard for social class, and doesn’t judge or discriminate.
For me I put a lot of restrictions and have things that hinder me from loving others fully and deeply. Whether it’s judgments I make towards people, anxiety I have, or worrying about what people will think about me, there are many things that hold me back. I think it’s important to first understand and feel Gods love for us and then to see how he created us all uniquely and intricately in his image.
This past week we spent two days going to a prison and hanging out with the women there. I honestly didn’t know how I felt about this and was a little cautious and nervous. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to connect with the lady’s because of the language barrier and differences In lifestyle, opinions and beliefs. It’s natural to place judgments, even before going into a situation, and that is exactly what I did.
Yet walking in there, I was filled with love and joy towards these women. Yes, they might have done some questionable things, but there is grace and forgiveness. Their stories are meant to be heard and they are more then their mistakes and current situation. I used the little Spanish I know to talk and pray over some of them. Every person opened up to me and was so kind. Just looking into their eyes I could see that they carried some regret and shame. But there was also hope and thankfulness. The lord was so present there and showing me that loving people is a choice we make and it is so worth it!!
