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."