"Write down what you fear the most," stated the presenter at the retreat I attended. That was hard for me to do. Now if it had been asked of me years ago when I had recently turned to Jesus Christ, I would have had a long list. In those years, I went through many hard trials, most of which were consequences of my poor choices when I was not following God’s way. Yet despite that, God held me up with His love. I could see His hand in my life. He did not make the trials go away, but guided me through them and never gave me more than I could bear.

Through the years, more trials came including those which were not from my poor choices. Some were small, others major, and the whole gambit in between, many things which are common to us all. And then there was answered prayer to both major issues and the little things. Numerous times when I thought I was about to lose a job, the circumstances changed at the last minute and the job was not lost. Our heavenly Father even cares about the little things. He has made lost things be found quickly, eased stormy weather when driving curvy country roads. He has showed me His love.

John states perfect "love drives out fear."

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4.13-18

Through the years God has shown me His perfect love for me, despite my past and present sins. Over and over His love has been reinforced. So when a trial hits, I have learned to look back at what my loving Father has done for me. I turn the trial over to Him and release any fear. Then I pray for not only His guidance but the lesson I need to learn from Him. Life will continue to happen, and all the trials that come along with it. He has been with me in life and I know He will be with me in death. I look forward to the most glorious promise of all.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
   and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
   for those who love him."

1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT