There were some shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:8-11

Envision yourself among the shepherds on that dark night. Rome occupied their homeland and much of the known world with loveless authority. The weight of Roman taxes was an oppressive burden. Hellenism, the belief that man is the sum of all things, had sadly brushed God and His love aside as irrelevant. In their place, man’s opinions and desires were exalted and even enjoyed by some spiritual leaders and countrymen.

I wonder what the shepherds were thinking about before the angel and glory of the Lord appeared. Were they yearning for a home-cooked meal and the laughter of their children? Were they wondering how to make ends meet or where God was in all the injustice? We will never know. Like us, however, they had cares and burdens in the middle of turbulent times.

As I imagine this scene, three uplifting thoughts strengthen me, and hopefully, they will encourage you, too:

• Change is challenging, but God is in control.
• We can trust God—not fear Him or our times.
• We overcome anxiety by humbly worshipping the Lord.

Change is challenging, but God is in control.

Seeing an angel and the Lord’s glory would cause anyone to gasp for air. Indeed, they probably felt the appearance signaled change was coming. Maybe they realized it was the long-awaited answer to generations of faith and prayer, but still, they were afraid. The angel comforted them, saying, “Do not be afraid. Christ the Savior is born for you.”

The world and life may seem out of control and uncertain right now. The unknown may create fear in us, just like it probably did for the shepherds. Change feels like walking on a tightrope across the Grand Canyon. How do I prepare for that? Will I be okay on the other side? What will be required of me? How will my life change? Can I handle it?

Change is challenging, but God is always in control. How did He calm the shepherds’ racing hearts? He reminded them that He always keeps His promises. Christ, the Savior of the world, was born that very night. Nothing happens outside of God’s watchful eye and redemptive plans.   

We can trust God—not fear Him or our times.

God is moving in our times. When faced with pressures, offense, setbacks, loss, and the storms of social, political, and relational turmoil, do not fear that God is punishing us (you). Romans 5:9 says, “Much more then, having now been justified [saved-past tense] by His blood, we shall be saved [future tense] from the wrath of God through Him.”

When Christ paid for our past and future sins, we were placed in the kingdom of His Son, where God is not angrily making us pay for our sins and shortcomings. Instead, He stands with us, empowering us to conquer fear and temptation.

In Christ, we have peace. “Do not be afraid.” The Savior was born “for you.” Christ granted you access to the Father to receive hope, strength, and courage in times of uncertainty, temptation, and a seemingly unraveling world. What gives us such confidence? We are His beloved sons, redeemed through the precious blood of Christ. God did not pay the ultimate price to forsake or reject us due to our frailties and the world’s choices.

We overcome anxiety by humbly worshipping the Lord.

The shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” Luke 2:15

Nothing instills confidence and hope like looking to Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:1-3) The more we fix our eyes upon the Savior, the more His divine perspective guards our minds and hearts, increasing our faith. The good news is Christ gave us peace WITH God. Much more, He also supplies us daily with the peace OF God.

As we humbly present ourselves to Him in worship, He gently replaces our fear with His peace and the knowledge that God is in control. Remember, He is our steadfast help in times of need. We can trust that He provides for today and tomorrow. As the Author of Life, He already knows the unfolding chapters and will meet all your needs.

Adore the Savior

Many of us are feeling the burden of uncertainty and the pull of fear. Rather than seeking temporary relief, let God comfort you with His words. “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord of hosts is with us [you]; The God of Jacob is our [your] stronghold. (Psalm 46:10-11)

Christmastime invites us to pause and adore the Savior. Gather your loved ones and read chapters one and two of Matthew and Luke. As you do, gaze upon Him. Let yourself be wholly preoccupied with the goodness of God. Shhh, behold the Savior. Like the shepherds on the night Christ was born, we can trust that God the Father is in control, knowing He is our refuge. I pray this Christmas you enjoy Christ and your family in a very special way.

Merry Happy Everything,