Bathed
in Love
There is no fear
in love.
1 John 4:18
“Mom!” Shaohannah hollered. “Maria
won’t wash her face!”
Mary Beth was chagrined at her
six-year-old daughter’s tattling. Knowing it was birthed out of a
disdain for anything dirty, especially where her little sister was
concerned, she tried not to encourage her little snitch.
The real issue here was Maria’s
unnatural fear of water. The mere mention of putting her head in or
under water totally freaked her out! The fact that Maria wouldn’t
even put her little face under the shower spoke of how strong the
fear was.
Heading upstairs to the bathroom, Mary
Beth silently asked God for wisdom, “Lord, your word says fear is
from the enemy. So please help me help Maria to not be afraid.”
The answer was almost audible, “Tell
her I am watching, and I love her so very much! And because of My
great love for her, she doesn’t have to be afraid anymore.”
Somehow Mary Beth knew it had been Jesus speaking. And as simple as
it sounded, she knew it would work!
What happened next revealed the truth
about child-like faith. For when Mary Beth told Maria what Jesus
said, Maria immediately put it to the test by dunking her little head
completely under the water!
Mary Beth and Shaohannah stared in
wonder as little Maria came up laughing!
†
In his hit song, “Dive”, Steven
Curtis Chapman sings about diving into the flow of God’s love.
Chapman sings “I’m divin’ in, I’m goin’ deep in over my
head I wanna be!” These lyrics do not speak of a casual or
superficial act. And for good reason!
This mighty river of love, birthed in
God’s heart, will consume us and drive out all fear if we abandon
ourselves completely and unashamedly to its flow.
Sadly, the fear of drowning complicates
matters for the reluctant heart. We don’t want to lose control; for
if we do, our life is no longer our own. And that, in effect, keeps
us at the edge of God’s cleansing and healing love.
The only way to overcome the fear in
our heart is to jump, as Chapman says, without hesitation, with the
knowledge Jesus is watching, and there’s no reason to fear! Jesus
guarantees: “You will come up laughing.”
Prayer
“Here I come, Lord
Jesus! Amen!”
Inspired by the song,
Dive, by: Steven Curtis Chapman
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