Are You Living in Fear?

"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." - 1 John 4:18

What happens when you feel fake, like you don’t belong, and you’re not sure you’re going to make it? Fear creeps in, whispering that you’re not enough, and you find yourself living in constant worry of being exposed.
 
For many, this fear leads to one of two responses: The first is overcompensating. You start trying to outperform everyone else to prove your worth. You become the perfectionist who can’t afford to make a mistake, the expert who has to know it all, and the hustler who pushes harder than anyone else. The problem is, no matter how hard you try, it’s never enough to quiet the fear.

Living like this might earn you applause from others, but inside, you’re exhausted. You feel trapped in a cycle of striving and pretending, constantly afraid that someone will see past the mask and discover the truth you’re trying to hide.
 
If that’s you, I want to encourage you today, God doesn’t call you to live this way. His love is perfect, and it drives out fear. When you understand that your worth isn’t tied to your performance, you no longer have to prove or please anyone. You don’t need to be perfect, know it all, or work harder to earn your place.

God sees you as you are, flaws and all, and He says you are enough. Your identity isn’t found in how much you accomplish or how well you perform, it’s found in the One who created you and loves you unconditionally.
 
You don’t have to live in fear of being exposed. Instead, you can rest in His perfect love, knowing that He has called you, chosen you, and equipped you for His purpose.