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“Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'” (John 7:37-38, NLT).

Do you ever feel parched for friendship, yet you pull back from people for fear of rejection?

This was the pattern of my life until I encountered something (Someone) bigger than the fear of rejection. Let me explain. As a young immigrant girl in high school, I KNEW nobody would like me. I was different–everybody could see that. I spoke English with a heavy German accent. I had long thick braids whereas my classmates had stylish bobbed hair. I couldn’t afford the modern clothes they were wearing. Our values were different. Even our jokes were different. And sports? I couldn’t hit a baseball if my life depended on it. And I couldn’t shoot a basket either.

Being naturally shy, I withdrew into the library. After school I hurried to the big yellow bus that would take me home. But when I got home, the house was empty. My mother worked long hours on the vegetable fields to support herself and her four children. My siblings were off playing with the neighbor’s children. What’s wrong with me, I thought for the thousands time. Why don’t I have any friends?

During this crushing loneliness, someone told me about Jesus. She told me that Jesus thinks I am beautiful,  for He created me. That Jesus loves me passionately for He died on the cross to pay for my sins. That Jesus accepts me just as I am for He delights in me. That Jesus wants to be my friend if I will let Him.

Hungrily I devoured her words. I accepted a Bible and began to read the Gospels to learn more about Jesus. In time, I turned my life over to Him. Now intellectual knowledge about Jesus became heart knowledge. As I got to know Him more, I began to feel the flood of His love and the joy of His friendship.

I didn’t realize what a difference Jesus would make in my relationships. I was surprised when my classmates now came to me asking if I’d help them with a math problem, or when they coaxed me to join glee club. But then I realized, the fear was gone. Jesus had replaced fear of rejection with a genuine interest in people. Now, instead of burying myself in a book, I’d pay attention to what was being said. Soon I was laughing along with them. We might look different on the outside, I’d think, but we’re not so different on the inside.

This experience has taught me many things. The most important, I think, is this: I need to go to Jesus first to have my love needs met. His perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18). Only when I’m filled with His love do I have any to give away.

What are some practical steps you can take to make this real? First of all, invite Jesus Christ to come into your life. Read Bible verses that speak of his love for you. You’ll find many of them in the concordance in the back of the Bible. Write out a verse then say it often throughout the day, out loud. Then ask Jesus to show you concrete ways to reach out to others. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how His love will flow through you to others.

Dear Jesus, You said that if I believed in You, out of my innermost being would flow rivers of living water. Please, let Your love flow through me today.

Questions: What is the difference between intellectual knowledge and heart knowledge about Jesus? What is the “perfect love” referred to in 1 John 4:18? How does this love drive away fear?

About this Author: Helen Grace Lescheid