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)
Recently God has placed on my heart, the fact that I’m a professional hoarder of my feelings and emotions. By that I mean – since childhood, I’ve learned how to suppress my fears, hurts and pains instead of fully facing them.
Now I do know that during certain times, suppressing my feelings was good in ways of helping me to be strong, but I’ve been doing it for so long, that someone close to me just recently told me that I am emotionless. That shocked me.
I know I’m not the “crybaby” type. It really takes a lot for me to shed a tear and even then it’s not much because I suck those tears up quickly. To know that someone near and dear to me thinks I’m emotionless really bothers me.
Here is the thing though… I agree with them. I’m by no means coldhearted, but they are right… I’m not the emotional type. I’m weird about hugs, I don’t like confrontation, and when it comes to my heart… there is a wall up until you prove that you’re worthy of the wall falling down. And even still, a few bricks will still be in place.
I think I’m not the only one like this. And I also feel that perhaps we need to start facing our fears, our hurts, our pain. Suppressing them only compounds the emotions over time, not heal them.
God wants us to invite Him into those dark places so that He can help bring us into the light. The love of God dispels the fear from our lives.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)
“In the animal kingdom, when lions see a heard of prey, like gazelles or antelopes, they strategize on how they can maximize capturing the most prey for their pride. The older lions, many of whom have lost their teeth and are not capable of running very far (but still have strong roars) get on one side of the field. The young, virile lions who can run far, get on the other side. Then, the roaring begins. Over and over again, the old and weak lions roar. The scared antelope and gazelles run exactly in the opposite direction of the roars…into the open jaws of the younger lions. Now imagine, if these gazelles knew to run toward the roar. They are faster and would have a much bigger chance of saving most of their herd from the feeble old lions.” – Dr. Nooravi
Just as the scared antelopes and gazelles should run toward the roar instead of away from it, we too should run toward the roar. Our fears, our hurts, our pains… in facing them we gain healing. They will soon no longer have power over us.
The enemy’s job is to kill, steal and destroy our joy and peace of mind. Don’t let him! Stop running away from the roar, which will lead you into a trap of destruction. Rather, run toward the roar, toward God!
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
- Peace In The Storm - February 12, 2018
- I’m Not Perfect, No One’s Perfect - May 10, 2016
- When You’ve Suppressed Your Feelings For Too Long - April 26, 2016
