One of my great joys in life at present is to have my 2-year-old daughter run into my arms with joyful abandon while she screams, “Dada, Dada, Dada”. I love that she trusts me and feels the freedom to throw herself into my arms. I treasure this closeness with her.
But can you remember a time when you did something wrong and were afraid of another finding out? On more than one occasion, I’ve hid myself from my Heavenly Father rather than running into His arms because I was embarrassed or struggling to trust Him.
1 John 4:18 tells us, “Love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love.” And 1 John also reminds us that our pardon does not depend on our performance, but upon His faithfulness. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” He is just in pardoning our sin because Christ in His love for us has paid for it all.
Do you ever shrink back from fellowship with God out of fear? Perhaps it’s fear of punishment, embarrassment, or a lack of trust. Yet the Father’s healing touch cannot be felt if we will not come to Him. God is ready to receive you with perfect love. Complete love. He is waiting, welcoming, wanting you to run into His arms. You were made for this closeness with Him. And He made a way in Christ, despite your sin, for you to run with joyful abandon to Him.