Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
My daughter is the author of today's blog post. To say I am a proud mama would be an understatement. But I can't take any credit. God is the One who has saved her, grown and matured her, and helped her to know and love Him. May you be encouraged by her life lesson today!
I’m a birth doula. At least, I’m trying to be (but that’s another discussion entirely). And as a doula, I’ve spent a lot of time studying pregnancy and birth. Do you know what is the most dangerous thing to a pregnant or laboring mother and her baby? It’s not cesarean section, although C-section accounts for one-fifth of maternal deaths and up to 20,000 “major surgical complications a year,” according to the CDC. It’s not epidural; it’s not the use of forceps or vacuum; it’s not unnecessary induction; and it’s not delivering your baby without a medical professional present. The biggest risk factor for traumatic birth isn’t long labors; it isn’t negligent care providers; and it isn’t “premature” or “overdue” babies. In fact, the biggest risk to a pregnant mother and her baby causes the risk of any of the things on this list to increase.
The most dangerous thing to a pregnant mamma and her soon-to-be born baby is fear.
The British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology recently published a study showing that fear can cause labor to be, on average, 1.5 hours longer! Also, the risk of emergency cesarean or other medical intervention is 1.6 times higher if the mother fears childbirth. Evidence Based Birth, Penny Simkin (one of the longest practicing doulas in the US), and Ina May Gaskins (author of many books on natural childbirth and midwifery) all agree on a fear-tension-pain cycle. As a mom fears something in childbirth, she introduces tension in her body and in the birthing room, and that tension causes pain to be stronger. As she experiences more pain, she fears more, and the cycle starts all over again. Fear is powerful!
Two things can help break that cycle. The first is love. Oxytocin is known as the love hormone because it is produced in response to loving feelings. As a mother remembers her love for the baby who is soon to be born, and as she shares these intimate moments with her husband, fear subsides and she can work through the pain, for soon she will meet her baby! Studies show that if a birthing mother can increase oxytocin naturally, the fear-tension-pain cycle can be ended, and she can enjoy her birth.
The other is knowledge. When a mother knows and understands what is happening in her body during pregnancy and birth, she realizes that there is nothing to fear, and the cycle may not start at all. Statistically speaking, when a mother chooses to educate herself prior to the birth of her baby, the risk of trauma goes down and there is a far smaller chance of adverse effects during labor and delivery.
These same principles apply to our Christian lives, too.
Fear is the reason we don’t share the Good News with others. Because of fear, we refuse to serve the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Fear cripples our spiritual growth, and makes us ok with living with less than what God wants for us. Fear brings tension, and tension brings pain. Pain from opportunities lost; pain from disappointment; pain from watching a friend run from God; pain from the chastisement of our loving Father. Fear is the greatest risk of trauma in the Christian life.
I John 4:18, says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” God has called us to love. But we cannot be loving if we are living in fear. The Heavenly “oxytocin” of love gives us the confidence, not only to not fear, but to cast it out entirely! Fear has no hold on the Believer who is perfecting love.
Along with this, comes knowledge. To cast out fear – to break the fear-tension-pain cycle of Christianity – we must know the One Who is Love. Perfect love casts out fear. When we fill our minds with knowledge about the “ways and wisdom” of our good God — as we study His Word, talk to Him, and talk about Him with others — we will know Him. And as we know Him, we will trust Him. And as we trust Him, love grows and fear disappears
Have you ever known someone who seems to be able to live joyfully in Christ, no matter their circumstances? Paul the Apostle is one such man. He was imprisoned, beaten, stoned, and left for dead. But did he let that dampen his joy or ruin his ministry toward others? Of course not! He wrote to the Philippians, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to about. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” But here’s what he knew: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Paul acted on the knowledge that God would give him the strength to do whatever he was called to do. And that knowledge kept him from fearing what could be done to him.
Paul rejoiced that “most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear…[they] do it out of love.” (Philippians 1:14, 16a) These “brothers” were quite probably people that Paul had discipled and trained in the knowledge of the Lord. As he taught them to know God, he taught them to love God, too. Paul’s love was contagious, and it helped spark love in other people — People who overcame their fear and proclaimed the Gospel.
So, dear friend, are you stuck in a spiritual fear-tension-pain cycle? Is your Christian life bordering on traumatic? Embrace what you know of your God, and choose to love as Christ loves!
