I try to read the Christmas story several times throughout the season so I can stay focused on what Christmas really is all about. What stuck out in the story this time was the angel’s instructions to “Fear not,” especially when you know that is exactly what those shepherds were doing at the time. And with everything we have just gone through from a lethal pandemic to the fear of global annihilation, we can easily be in the same boat. Yet fear is such an energy vampire.
Fear makes us anxious, and that anxiety wrecks our health and robs our courage. Millions of dollars are spent each year on medications geared to calm us down. We gotta turn off the computer and stop feeding the anxiety monster.
Fear results in insomnia and sleeplessness contributes to accidents on the highway, and days off work, which results in financial stress, which contributes to marriages failing and further stress.
Fear perpetuates stress which exacerbates high blood pressure. That contributes to damage to the coronary arteries, heart disease, congestive heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes. Strokes lead to paralysis memory loss, kidney damage, vision loss, and death!
But the message of Christmas is “Be amazed, not afraid. Trust God and fear not.”
Fear not, even when you open up your mail and instead of Christmas cards it’s all bills—“big badda bills” you weren’t expecting.
Fear not, when you open up your kid’s report card and you wonder if they will ever leave home because they can’t even pass math!
Fear not, when you open up the results from the doctor’s office and all those problems you thought were behind you aren’t.
Fear not, when you open up to MSN and there is more dissension amongst the ranks and fearful news about everything from lethal asteroids to deadly hemorrhoids. All the while, media ramps up your fear to keep you clicking on the latest thing that threatens to rob your courage and resolve.
Instead of opening up the computer to more scary news, open up to the Christmas story. As you do, I encourage you to breathe, be in this moment, and listen to the words as you read them:
Luke 2: 8-14, And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Fear not. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 , Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”
Rick Warren states, that “Fear not” appears 365 times in Scripture. That’s one “Fear not” for every day of the year!”
“Warren also says, “You lose your fear when God is near.” That’s true because God’s presence can trump our panic.
The angel told the shepherds with their rock concert in the sky to “Fear not” because this baby we are singing about will grow into a man who is capable of handling it all and you in the process. These are good tidings of great joy.
To the man with leprosy, He says, “Be healed.”
To the woman bleeding for 12 years, Jesus says, “Daughter your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your suffering.”
To the disciples in a storm, he said. “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
To all of us, He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! (Have courage) I have overcome the world.”
Fear not. I’ve got this. No matter how daunting your situation, how difficult the circumstances, I can handle it.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid,” (John 14:27). You’ve got me, and I got your back! Fear not.
If you get nothing from the story, hear the message from the angels: “Fear not, because the Messiah is here. Emmanuel God with us.”
Have a Very Merry Christmas