Faith Trounces Fear

Do not be afraid, for I am with you.  Do not be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. – Isaiah 41:10

How many times have you let fear stop you from stepping out in faith? If you’re like me, fear has stopped you in your tracks too many times to count.  

Fear stands in opposition of faith. It keeps us stuck in place when God says move.  Fear discourages us when faith calls on us to be courageous. Which will you choose, fear or faith?

Let’s step into the shoes of the shepherds near Bethlehem the night Jesus was born and see what they did in the face of fear by reading Luke 2:8-20, paraphrased into story form.

There were shepherds lying in a grassy meadow watching their sheep sleep at night. Stars twinkled overhead as a calm breeze blew.  Perfect peace settled around them as their eyelids grew heavy.  Then, without warning, a bright light flashed.  An angel of the Lord appeared saying, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good new of great joy that will be for all people.  Today in Bethlehem the long awaited Messiah has been born.  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manager.”  Suddenly the entire sky filled with a heavenly host of angels singing glory to God in the highest. The shepherds stood in awe and wonder listening to the chorus singing of peace, joy, and love.  The angels disappeared as quickly as they came, again it was calm, quiet, and still.  But the shepherds shook with fear and excitement.  Their eyes locked together and they agreed to leave immediately in search of the newborn child.  As they hurried off, each one pondered if the Messiah, sent to save the world, would really want to meet them.  They were lowly shepherds, uneducated, young, and poor.  Fear of rejection kept them in place, but faith and hope called them to move ahead and meet their Savior face to face.  Faith led them on until their feet stopped in front of the manager where a baby boy lay sweetly in the hay.  Once again the glory of God shone around them.  Fear long forgotten as their hearts overflowed with more peace, joy, and love than one heart can hold.  

Christmas calls you, like the shepherds, to stand in awe of God’s greatest gift.  Fear of rejection will taunt you by telling you that you’re not really important to God.  Fear will also distract you, pointing you to things not really important to Him.  But faith will call you to be still, calm, and remember that God is near and His love is real.  

Let Jesus’ bright light startle you wide awake, just as it woke the shepherds from their slumber.  Let Jesus’ birth story and God’s miraculous signs and wonders encourage you to follow faith instead of fear, because God’s powerful presence will be near.   

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