Don’t Be Afraid
Read
Luke 2:10-11 “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’”
Think
The words “Do not be afraid” echo like a steady refrain throughout the Christmas story, as if God knew the struggles and uncertainties we would face. In the chaos of life—financial stress, relational tension, work pressures, and global concerns—those words feel distant. For many, Christmas amplifies these fears, adding expectations and pressures that leave little room for peace. But the beauty of the Christmas story is this: into real-life fear and chaos, hope was born.
Consider Mary, a young girl pregnant under circumstances that invited shame and judgment. Imagine Joseph, reeling from the news that his fiancée was with child, trying to make sense of what obedience to God would cost him. And then there were the shepherds, outcasts working the night shift, suddenly confronted by an angelic announcement of peace and joy. Their stories weren’t tidy, their circumstances far from ideal, yet God met them with the same message: “Do not be afraid.”
This wasn’t just a comforting phrase—it was an invitation to trust the One who stepped into their mess. God didn’t send his Son into luxury or ease but into poverty and vulnerability. He chose to enter a world full of fear, darkness, and uncertainty to bring his light. The promise of Immanuel—God with us—remains the same today. He whispers into our anxiety, our emptiness, and our brokenness: “Trust Me.”
Christmas is a reminder that God doesn’t demand perfection before he shows up. He walks into our chaos, offering his peace right in the middle of it. As Paul writes in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
So, if your heart feels heavy this season, invite him in. Let him meet you in the messiness and speak his peace over your fears. Trust him, because the message of Christmas is clear: You don’t have to be afraid. Hope has come, and he will walk with you through it all.
Apply
Write down Luke 2:10-11 or Philippians 4:7 and place it somewhere visible (your fridge, desk, or phone background) as a reminder of God’s peace and presence.
Pray
Lord, help me to trust you when life feels overwhelming and to rest in the truth that you are with me, even in the messiness. Calm my anxious heart and fill me with your peace that surpasses all understanding. Let this Christmas be a time where I draw closer to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.