There is no fear in love

 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love." 1 John 4:18


As I was in the plane going from Chicago, USA to Sau Paulo, Brasil something funny and scary (at the same time) happened. First of all, I experienced a lot of turbulence on my first two trips. This was really scary to me. As I went through this, I remembered Jesus and the storm. He was sleeping even when the storm was really strong.  I prayed that God would keep me safe. I was already scared because of the turbulence, which explains a little more of what I am about to tell. At some point I fell asleep and when I got up again I saw a bright, white light outside of the left side of the airplane (the side of my window). I first thought that the light was coming from another airplane that was closer to ours, but i thought it was too close. I didn't want to be scared but somehow I was. I tried to think of other options of what that bright light could be, but none of my ideas made much sense. As it seemed to me that the light was getting closer and closer, my heartbeat was also going faster and faster. 


Tired of trying to figure out on my own what that light was, I decided to go talk to one of the flight attendants. I got up and told one of them what I was seeing. I showed him the bright light through a window and he wasn't sure what that light was either. He said to me : "Well, let's find out". He got the phone and called someone (I think he called the pilot). As this was happening, another flight attendant came. He asked what was happening, so I told him the story too. This time I decided to show him the bright light from my side of the window. We went to where I was sitting and I showed him the light. After 2 or 3 seconds, he got up and told me what the light was. He said "That light is just a light that comes from the wing of the airplane". We both went to tell the other flight attendant that it wasn't necessary to call the pilot (or whoever he was calling) anymore.


As I sat down, a little embarrassed, and laughed for a while I thought of what just happened. I was terribly scared just 5 minutes ago, but after learning what that light really was I could only smile and laugh. What a change in my heart, mood and overall feeling of wellness! 


I also think that this can happen in the spiritual realm. How many times I freak out because I do not know or dwell in God's perfect love? This can happen because of a lack of knowledge. Many times we do not know what God's word says or we do not believe it. The prophet Hosea says in Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge". This is very true. 


When we do not rest in the amazing love that God has for us then the enemy of our souls can come and lie to us very easily. God speaks about His love through Paul in Romans 8:38 saying, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Paul uses the word "convinced". I believe His conviction comes from the knowledge and revelation that the Holy Spirit has given Him about God's love. God also wants to give us insight into His word so that we can grow in the knowledge of Him and His name. The experience with the light in the airplane made me think of my experience of knowing who God really is and how just by knowing Him, all fear can be gone. 


I pray that I will grow closer to God. I pray God would give me more insight of His very nature so that I can rest in His love for me. There is absolutely nothing to fear when God, the perfect lover and author of love, is inside of us, fighting for us and loving us like no one can ever do. I want to dwell in that kind of love every day of my life. 


Thank you Jesus!