I have a sign in my bathroom that says, “Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says, “Oh crap, she’s up.”

That’s the kind of woman I aspire to be—a woman so full of life, light, laughter, and love that I give the devil indigestion. I want to fight for the good and frustrate the evil. And though I still have a long way to go to become that woman fully, I am making progress because I discovered a secret: Knowing you are loved makes you brave.  

And not just any kind of brave. The hard-but-beautiful kind that speaks the truth without having to have the last word, forgives even when you can’t forget, and looks the homeless woman in the eye before turning the car around to go buy her a cup of coffee. It’s the kind of brave that keeps my promise when breaking it would be easier, gives even when the budget is tight, and walks out of the movie that just crossed the line. 

The devil knows that secret too, but counters it with the power of the inverse: Doubting you are loved makes you fearful.  

And fearful people are easily controlled. 

But Jesus came to break the control of the devil—the one who holds the power of sin and death. Jesus came to set us free from fear because he loves us. Hebrews 2:14-15

Because he loves you. 

Do you believe that? Or do you doubt?

I am here because I believe it, and I want to encourage you to believe it also. That’s why I started Jesus Loves. To create a space where people can talk about the love of Jesus and how it makes them brave, sets them free, and gives the devil indigestion. 

There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear. 

I John 4:18a