“Do Not Fear” — Seems to Be a Theme Here

 

If we’ve learned anything from the Christmas story so far, it’s this --God must know we humans can be skittish aka jumpy aka nervous. Three scenes in and we’re already batting three for three on angelic fear warnings.

Mary? “Do not be afraid.”
Joseph? “Do not be afraid.”
Shepherds? “Do not be afraid.”
(Translation: Breathe. Heaven is speaking.)

Those four little words pack quite a punch. And while I’m all about faith and trust, I won’t pretend fear isn’t a real visitor. It shows up with bills, medical reports, repairs, family tensions, and those moments when the bottom drops out and we wonder how we’ll stand back up. Fear is no quick-fix situation -- it’s a loud talker.

So where do we even begin when fear turns up the volume?

Christmas shines a spotlight on the answer -- not the Christmas carols and cocoa, but the deeper truth underneath it all. In the middle of human messiness, God keeps showing up with the same holy refrain: “Don’t be afraid.”

No wonder it appears in scripture hundreds of times. God must delight in turning fearful moments into sacred ones.

Think of Mary -- wide-eyed and wondering. Joseph -- torn between logic and love. Shepherds -- scared witless by radiant skies. And to each of them, God says, “Do not fear,” not as a suggestion but a divine command -- because what He is doing is greater than what they are fearing.

And He’s still saying it to us.

The same God who steadied Mary --
The same God who reassured Joseph --
The same God who lit up the night for shepherds --
is whispering to us today -- “Do not be afraid.”

Why? Because perfect love still casts out fear.
Because His presence still overrides panic.
Because His joy still breaks into dark places.
Because His plan -- yes, even in the 21st century -- still holds firm.

Let's picture God placing His Son in our arms, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and saying --
“Don’t be afraid of anything -- ever.
I give you peace.
I give you hope.
I give you comfort.
I give you GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY.
I give you JESUS.”

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore… we will not fear.” (Psalm 46:1–2)

#donotfear #dontbeafraid #GoodNews #GreatJoy