While the United States of America was in the throws of a civil war, the Reverend M. R. Watkinson sent a letter to the Secretary of Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, requesting that God be recognized and honored on the nation’s currency. He was concerned that the “goddess of liberty” image would set the course of America as being a pagan nation, rather than a God-fearing nation. Subsequently, the Secretary brought a request to Congress to approve the phrase “In God We Trust” to be printed on the newly minted one penny coin. This phrase was later printed on the paper money and has since been widely known as an American motto. We find something similar in the Psalm 56:11: “In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Fear brings with it torment, especially in regard to the uncertainty of the future. In the book of Hebrews, it says that Satan holds all in bondage through the fear of death. (Hebrews 2:15) During the Civil War, there was the fear of a United States being divided, of families being torn apart, of brothers killing brothers and livelihoods destroyed. To express trust in God was to say that only God could resolve the conflicts between mankind. God was not only their source and supply, but also their salvation. I believe that this declaration on the currency set the stage for a number of spiritual revivals to sweep the land, which brought healing and salvation to so many.
As I have considered the word trust, I see love. God’s intervention in the affairs of man is because of His love for mankind. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Because God loves us, we can trust Him with our lives, our families, and our future…everything. The Apostle John wrote in his first epistle: “…perfect love casts our fear…” (1 John 4:18) It is only in having a love relationship with God that one can become secure and fearless. Without experiencing God’s love, we are left to preserving our own lives in whatever way we can. This is where fear comes in.
Fearless love is what gives couples the courage to leave father and mother and enter a “one-flesh” relationship as husband and wife. The future holds many uncertainties, but because of love the newly-weds embrace it with anticipation and joy. Everyone wants to love and be loved. Artists, both secular and Christian, have written music along this theme. This is what the heart longs for, a never-ending love that brings security and peace. A love that can face the winds of adversity and difficulties of life without fear. But so often this is not the case. Many starry-eyed lovers do not end well. What they felt in the beginning gets swallowed up by the careless words, selfish attitudes and haunting fears. Sin-stained man needs God’s love to love fearlessly.
Fearless love brings peace and the confidence that all things will work out for the best. Because God loves, we can love as well. Fear paralyzes and obliges one to repeat past failures, but perfect love casts out this fear. What do I mean by perfect love? We can see the definition of this “agape”, or God’s kind of love, in the 13th chapter of First Corinthians. It is the love that is patient and kind, that is not arrogant or rude; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. It is not a fairy tale, never-never-land, kind of love. It is real because God is real and God is Love. This is the love that God has poured into our hearts. His love helps us forgive over and over again. Trust God’s love in you to fearlessly love others.
Scriptures to meditate on:
1 John 4:18-19; Psalms 23; 56:11; Matthew 10:28-31; 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 2:15