A Heart Full Of Love

This past Friday was my long-awaited dance/voice recital. 
I was to dance with the Jazz and Ballet groups, sing a solo, and perform a trio from the musical 'Les Misérables'. 
The song was called, as the title of this post suggests, 
'A Heart Full Of Love'
When my voice teacher told me, probably back in February, that she wanted me to sing it with two of her other students (both of whom are older than I, and I have silently fangirled over for years because they're such amazing singers) I eagerly accepted the offer.
The thing is, and I've talked about this before...
I have mildly intense anxiety.
Yes "mildly intense" is a conflicting statement. No, I will not change that wording.
I find myself constantly feeling anxious. 
I read too much into pretty much every conversation I have with anyone, always coming to the conclusion that they don't like me or think I'm weird; I feel sick before going in front of a bunch of people; I'm constantly tense and usually nervously sweating no matter what (this just got personal lol); I even find myself taking tiny breaths of air when the room is quiet sometimes, because, as silly as this sounds, I find myself getting worried that someone will think my breathing is too loud.
Yes, I even feel anxious over ridiculous things like that.
And don't get me started on listening to music with earbuds in public, or eating in front of other people.
So... why do I do this theatre stuff?
Why would I be excited about singing this trio, when I was told to sing for the leading lady, and had to hit a crazy high note at the ending?...In front of people!! 
Well, let me tell you a story.
About a year or two ago, I felt God tugging at my heart.
I felt Him opening doors for me to get out of my comfort zone, and get in front of other people. 
A lot.
I would turn down opportunity after opportunity, and eventually, I decided I wanted to face that fear.
I told God that if He provided opportunities for me to get up in front of other people, I wouldn't turn them down.
So ever since then, it's been about a year and a half since I made that promise, I've been taking every opportunity He provides that I can.
I was more nervous over this song than I was over my solo, but more excited too.
We had only rehearsed one day all together, but I had full confidence that I was amongst hardworking, incredible talent, and I figured they'd make up for it if I blew it.
Plus my leading man had to open the song rather than I, so that was a huge relief.
As I was practicing this song day after day, it quickly became my favorite song to sing.
The reason why? Because the first lyric I sang was, 
"A heart full of love. No fear, no regret."
Every time I'd sing that, I would think of a Bible verse I didn't know where to find, that said, "There is no fear in love. For perfect love casts out all fear."
Flash forward to the night of the recital, we were waiting to go on, and I was feeling sick. 
Seconds before we walked up to the steps on that stage, I told myself the final verse in Romans 15, "May the God of peace be with you all. Amen." 
I then closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and said a prayer.
This will sound really weird to anyone who doesn't roll with all the spirit-led stuff, but I opened my eyes and could almost visibly see Jesus wrapping His arm around my shoulders, begin to step up the stairs ahead of me, look into my eyes with love, smile, and wave me on stage.
When the music started... I looked off and let myself get lost in the Spirit.
When I came in with those simple words,
"no fear"
I kid you not, every ounce of anxiety left my body.
And at the ending... I hit that note in front of people for the first time.
It became a song of worship to me, even though it was intended to be a love song between a man and a woman,
and it was probably the most spiritual moment I have ever had while performing.
So, why the post on it?
Because, friends... I know I'm not the only one who has anxiety.
I know I'm not the only one who lives their life in fear.
And I know I'm not the only one who's sick of it.
I did nothing during that song. It was 100% God strengthening me.
But my point is, though fear is real and things are scary, there is no fear in love.
Perfect love is Jesus.
He has not given us a spirit of fear.
All this fear can be overcome if we just ask God to give us a heart full of love, a heart full of Him.
Things will still be scary, you may still feel nervous and afraid at times...
But you don't need to let it overcome you.
You can go out and face that fear, even when you're afraid, because you have perfect love inside of you.
And there is no fear in Him.