fear.

"The woman in joyful liberty of perfect love knows no fear." 

- Charles Spurgeon -

Have you ever read a quote and had something somewhere deep inside of you sigh with a deep relief? Like suddenly the words that are in black and white before you have entered your mind and worked their way right down to the very bleeding part of your heart? This happens more often than I'd like to admit. Words have a way with me - a way of healing me when I didn't even know I needed it.

When I read this one, my heart immediately longed for what it spoke of. Freedom. Surrender. Liberty.  Courage. And the root of all of this? Perfect Love. Not the kind of love that fills you for a minute and leaves you empty the next. Not the kind of love that numbs you til you lose yourself. Not the kind of love that tells you to be someone different than who you were created to be. These are fake loves - only the most perfect of Love can cast out all fear.

This quote reminds me of another story. One of my favorites, found within the pages of the wildest Love story I'll ever read.

"Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's houses, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. And then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them." 

- Luke 7:36-38 -

This. This is a woman grounded in perfect Love. She might hear the whispers of fear but chooses to not listen as she draws close to the feet of Love and pours out her life. Who knows what broken pieces of her soul wept before Him - longing for acceptance, grace, healing? Who knows which part of her bruised heart could not even bear to look Him in the eyes? Who knows her shame buried deep within? Who knows her desperation? I do not know this woman's story - yet I see a piece of myself in her. Begging for the joyful liberty of perfect Love. 

"Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - as her great love has shown. Then Jesus said to her: Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

- Luke 7: 47, 48, 50 -

Oh, to be fully exposed before Love and met with the gift of peace. A peace which surpasses all understanding. A peace which stands as the opposite of fear. A peace which finds joyful liberty at the feet of perfect Love.

Be brave, my dear, tender heart. For no matter your story, this Love will always greet you with the kiss of peace, the arms of acceptance and the eyes of grace. Fear not.