March 15 – Drawn by Love, Not Fear
Fear pushes, but love draws. John Eldredge
Gregg’s Reflection
For much of my early faith life, fear was my motivator. I feared not measuring up, not being “enough” in God’s eyes, and the thought of judgment loomed large in my mind. My drive to perform — in business, in church, even in family life — was often rooted in trying to avoid that imagined disapproval. The irony was that even as I professed belief in grace, I still lived as though it all depended on me.
Over time, after hitting the wall many times, I began to encounter a different picture of God. This God was not a relentless taskmaster, but a loving Presence who invites rather than commands, who draws rather than drives. As I leaned into prayer and silence, I felt less like a servant earning wages and more like a beloved child at home. The shift from fear to love didn’t happen overnight, but once I caught even a glimpse of that love, there was no going back.
When we are drawn by love, we don’t abandon effort — but our effort becomes joyful, even playful. Fear can only push us so far before it exhausts us. Love, on the other hand, has no limit. It continually pulls us toward the heart of God, where rest and purpose meet.
Scripture
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.
1 John 4:18
Ancient Quotes
The soul is inflamed and drawn by love; it is not constrained by fear or compelled by force.
St. John of the Cross, The Spiritual Canticle, stanza 28
Modern Quotes
God does not love us because we are good. God loves us because God is good.
Richard Rohr, The Good News According to Luke, p. 45
Fear pushes, but love draws. Fear demands performance; love invites presence.
John Eldredge, The Journey of Desire, p. 67
Journaling Prompts
- When you reflect honestly, do you feel more driven by fear or drawn by love in your spiritual life?
- How has your image of God shifted over the years?
- What practices help you experience God’s love as your primary motivator?
- What might change if you fully trusted that God’s love for you is unconditional?
👉 Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 11 Reflection: Driven vs Drawn