When i was little, I had a certain fascination with angels. By no means do I tell you that I have a complete collection of artists’ dedication of angels, but I’m staring at one right now. Ceramic. My child gave her to me as a Christmas gift many years ago. In my kitchen, a wooden angel from my mom. In my living room, more ceramic angels from my grandma. Another wooden angel painted beautifully. My tree topper is an angel. I can’t count how many times, as a kid, I read Angels by Billy Graham. Crystal angel as well…

I’ve done text studies for angels. Comparing and contrasting, see what is the same in the interactions humans had with angels. It is a beautiful study, full of mystery and wonder.

Friend, my focus on angels can be broken down into this. I love the thought that angels are all around us, whether we can see them or not. What I love most is angels are near, right? As I study 1 John 4, I know that there is one closer, one who loves, remains, casts out fear, teaches me to love truly. So, what my younger self craved has been replaced by truth.

Angels are around us, don’t get me wrong. What I wanted in angels, God has already provided. His presence, His love are here. Before I am misunderstood, here’s the passage.

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.4.16-19.ESV

I know and believe God’s love is for us. John clarifies further, God is love. He abides with us. I abide in love and he is abiding with me. God’s love is perfected in me. I can have confidence with whatever I face, there is no fear in love. God’s perfect love casts out fear.

I’ll be honest and tell you, that sentence, there is no fear in love..has been a source of shame for me. I have been fearful. I have anxiety. I have depression. Reading it this time, I feel as though I reading it for the first time. As I love, God’s love abides. As I love those who are difficult, I am not loving for their sake, (I hope that makes sense..) I am allowing God to change my heart. So when I approach this sentence, I realize that this is back to practicing.

Declaring truth over hard times. Remembering that this life is practicing, I can declare that God is moving me, changing me. I can trust God with everything, everyone and in doing so, cast out fear. Cast out doubt. It starts right here. Making the deliberate choice to take a step. Face the next fear. Face the next. All knowing that God’s Spirit abides in me. I don’t have the answers for tomorrow. I have the next step.

Love.

We love because he first loved us.

So, we do have angels around, but right now, right here, the important truth is God abides with me here. May all of my earthy depictions of angels now be a source to remind me. God is closer. God is nearer. God is with me. So go and love.