If we were truly honest with ourselves, how much of our inner and outer life are governed by those two words?
Those two words are, obviously, related. Fear often has to do with the avoidance of pain. Fear governs us by influencing our decisions away from those things that might result in pain or rejection. In listening to the voices of fear, there will be times when we fail to do what is right, fail to make the right decision or fail to say the hard thing because sometimes the right thing will result in pain…either in self or others. Life cannot be lived in order to avoid all pain and still maintain one’s integrity.
Instead of pain and fear, let us be governed by love and truth. Those two words can and will mean that there is pain to be endured. That is inevitable but at least it comes with integrity, conviction and a heart that is in line with God.
