DECEMBER 12 NO ROOM FOR FEAR By Karen Rathbun Alumni Director, Word of Life Bible Institute
Today’s Passage: Luke 1:34–38
In our home, I have a prominently displayed Christmas countdown calendar. Each December 26, we begin again at 364, and as months pass by, the number dwindles with building anticipation. I am one of THOSE people. I must admit, through the filter of time and Hallmark, I have become content with my sanitized version of the Christmas story – where “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “Joy to the World” make spirits bright. Fa la la la la – I love it all! However, when I truly consider the very real, flesh-and-blood individuals surrounding the birth of Jesus, I am confident that their perspective would have no resemblance to mine. It is difficult to reconcile my glitter-coated, vanilla-scented version to Luke’s account, where fear and doubt are reoccurring themes. Four times, the angel Gabriel admonished his audience, including Mary, with the words, “DO NOT BE AFRAID!” In Mary’s human mind, there was certainly much to fear. As a young, unmarried woman, she had every reason to feel anxious and doubtful – and at first, she did! Luke 1:29 tells us that Mary was “greatly troubled,” and in verse 34, she asks Gabriel, “How can this be?” when he tells her she will give birth to Jesus.
But here’s the truth for us – Mary didn’t stay in that place of fear.
She chose to quiet her heart, listen to God’s plan, and surrender her life to Him, saying in verse 38, “I am the Lord’s servant…” Mary shifted her focus from her own fears to the character of God through praise and worship. There is no fear or doubt in Mary’s song (Luke 1:46–55) – only the overwhelming goodness of the Lord God her Savior.
Mary proclaimed: God is MIGHTY. God is HOLY. God is MERCIFUL. God is POWERFUL. God is FAITHFUL.
When fear threatens to undo us, we can look upward to Jesus. His character will never change, and His promises are sure. Trust Him today.
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