This lesson came together in bits for me, a little study here and there over the months until i finally got the message God was trying to tell me. It all came together and now am gradually taking it all in.

I have had this fear in my Christian walk that overcoming a difficult situation helps deepen your faith in God, but it also prepares you for greater challenges, (my fear is in the greater challenges). So while i am grateful to God for helping me through a difficult situation, am always careful to learn from the experiences in preparation for what might be ahead. (am not sure i do a good job at that, because i have to learn and relearn again sometimes). 

I remember talking to a friend about it, who told me that it means "my love for God is not perfected, because perfect love casts out fear". I remember thinking "really? what verse of the bible is that again?" and this led to my study and discovery. I am going to share this understanding in the sequel it was revealed to me.

Psalm 119 v 105: "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

Then i came across Proverbs 6 v 23: "For this command is a lamp and this teaching is a light."

Therefore God's word to me are his commandments and his teachings, his commandments are lamps to my feet, to caution and restrict me and his teachings are the light that gives me understanding. The understanding i need to abide by his commandments.

And then, i found 1 John 2 v 5: " But if anyone obeys his word (commandments and teachings), the love for God is truly made complete/perfect in them. This is how we know we are in him".

In short, the love of God is perfected or made complete through obedience of God's word (his commandments and teachings). And then walking in obedience to God's word will drive out fear.

1 John 4 v 18:"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".

That means, all i have to do is ensure i walk in obedience and then i will have no reason to fear. Then i will be right to say "fear is a signal of walking in disobedience".