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 4:18
“Fear is such a powerful emotion for humans that when we allow it to take us over, it drives compassion right out of our hearts.”
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) in Daily Inspiration: 365 Quotes from Saints (Boston: Wyatt North, 2018) 371.
I discovered something in my reading just prior to departing on this trip. As you are reading this, I am somewhere between Tokyo and Jakarta.
Aquinas explains why there is not a lot of compassion in the world today. The world is gripped with fear, and fear drives compassion from our hearts.
What are you afraid of? Seriously, name your fears. Give them to God. In exchange ask for His perfect love to fill and restore you.
As we give God our fears–fear of not having enough, fear of sickness, fear of failure–we are free to show compassion like Jesus who had no fear.
He knew the Father had His every need sorted. He has your every need sorted too. He lived generously with this belief carrying Him. Do you?