1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Fear and love are depicted as opposites, even as hostile enemies. There is no room for both fear and love to exist together in the same space. One must drive out the other. The promise is that perfect love drives out fear. God is ”perfect love.” That perfect love lives in us as a living Person. He overcomes our fears.
This promise is hard to believe because fear, doubt, worry, and anxiety are our daily companions, and at times worry gains the all-consuming upper hand. That is when we need to apply this promise, believe in the Love and let it cast out fear. Our love cannot cast out fear for it is not yet pure and perfect, but God’s love in us is perfect and strong enough to drive away worry and anxiety. Therefore, we need to hear, believe, and apply the Gospel as often as possible, even 24/7.
However, we still fear in the form of doubt, worry, and anxiety, which simply means we are not yet perfected in love. God isn’t finished with me yet. But we have the promise that one day we will be perfected in love, and then ”all fears are gone.” Meanwhile, we have the Perfect Love living in us who casts out fear and torment. Pay attention to Him.