FEAR NOT

A lot of our fears come because we're afraid of something different. We all have our own habits, routines, and preferences. We have our favorite brands of the products we buy. We also have the brands that we will avoid. It could be a favorite chair in the living room, a favorite item on a menu, a preferred brand of car, or a favorite candy bar. We have our preferred routines in life and when people or circumstances disrupt our routine we get upset and that leads to at least a little bit of fear. We go through life with our habits and routines and when something different comes along it causes fear. Maybe a tiny bit, maybe a lot. 

Here is a picture of Santa and a crying baby. That's me as the crying baby. (And yes, I realize I've put on a lot of weight since this picture was taken). I was about 16 months old at the time, and seeing a Santa at a mall apparently disrupted my routine and it caused some problems for me, as well as my parents who were trying to raise this extremely difficult child. 

When we look at the Christmas story in the Bible there are all kinds of disruptive events that broke Mary & Joseph out of their habits, routines, and preferences. The angel came to make announcements to Mary and told her to not be afraid of this major change in her life. She is not just pregnant before wedlock, but also the confusing announcement of a virgin birth. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife. These were life-changing events that would cause anyone to panic and to be in fear, and the angel's message is to fear not. 

Here is the rest of the story of the crying baby Brian with Santa. The only reason my parents took me to see Santa is that the guy who was making some extra money playing Santa was my grandpa. This 16-month-old Brian knew his grandpa but didn't recognize him at the moment. I didn't realize that I was being held by someone who loves me. I didn't recognize that and it led to fear. Mary and Joseph had life-changing circumstances and they were living in fear, because they didn't realize they were being held by someone who loved them. So, there was a message from an angel that the God who loves them is in this and to not be afraid. 

As we all deal with our doubts, struggles, and fears in life, we need to remember to fear not. In the midst of a fast-paced and changing world it is so easy to give into our anxiety and fear. The reason we get afraid is that we don't recognize that we are being held by someone who loves us. 

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." 

Emmanuel

Last month I changed jobs and moved into a new office. I have a lot of books, even after getting rid of books before the move. I have books, pictures, and other items that have been in my office for many years. I've moved several times, but these things come with me. Do I need all of these books in my office? Probably not. Why do I have all of these books that I have read and might not read again? It makes me feel like this is my office. It gives me comfort. Ok, these are my emotional support books. There, I said it, are you happy now? 

Why do we keep things with us? Why do people rent storage units to keep their "stuff"? We do this because it brings us comfort. Decades ago when I was a kid somehow I got through life without having a cell phone with me at all times. Now we need the comfort of knowing we might need to send a text or get a text or get directions or any number of things. Why do we do this? Because we feel alone. We struggle with being alone. In our society, placing someone in a room alone for an extended period is a punishment. Whether it is a child being put in "timeout" or a prisoner in solitary, it is a punishment. 

As human beings, we struggle with being alone. This is why humans want people around us, or the ability to communicate with people, or a pet, or emotional support books. All of that is kind of weird, but that's the human condition. And into this situation God sent Jesus. One of the names of Jesus is Emmanuel. In the Bible names are not just names, but they also are descriptive of the person. Jesus is called Emmanuel which means God with us. To these lonely human beings God sent himself. He did not send us more people or more stuff, he sent himself. He is the Emmanuel, he is God with us. 

Galatians 4:4 "But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law." God came to be the Emmanuel, to be with us as a human race at just the right time. And we can trust him to come to us at the right time. We may need God to give us comfort in the midst of sorrow, peace in the midst of busyness, or even correction when we're going the wrong way. God will be the Emmanuel if you let him. Will you let him be your Emmanuel?