Fear Not

Even as I sit here typing this blog I can feel the dull ache of fear that's burrowed its way somewhere deep in my heart.  My fears often surround the idea of loss.  Somehow, the hype of Christmas and the crazy high expectations we place on ourselves and others this time of year, only seems to amplify those fears.  Some of my fears are legitimate, others are hypothetical.  Many people I care for are entering this season carrying a heavy weight of fear.  Some have lost those that have been central to their Christmas celebration their whole lives.  Others fear facing Christmas for the first time without their loved one.  I have friends who will celebrate Christmas feeling the sting of the loss of their unborn child.  Friends who feel the loss of what was never theirs.  Friends who have had falling outs of treasured relationships.  Friends who fear spending all day with strained family members.  Friends who fear the day after Christmas when the house is empty.  Ugh.  Christmas isn't supposed to feel like this.

 "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."  Luke 2:10

Fear not.

FEAR NOT!

God created us.  He is keenly aware of our brokenness and the brokenness of this fallen world, and yet he says, fear not.  

While I don't know what fears reside in the corners of your heart, I know they are there.  And I know if you're anything like me, verses like this make you want to say, "Really?  And how am I supposed to do that with all of this going on in my heart and in my life?"

Fortunately, God doesn't leave me hanging when I ask such questions.  Why can I fear not?

• Fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God,  my God, is with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you.  1 Chron 28:20 
• Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. Isaiah 43:1
• For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Isaiah 41:13 
• Fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God goes with you, he will never leave you or forsake you.  Deut 31:6
•  Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great thing. Joel 2:2
• I am the LORD your God; Fear not.  Judges 6:10
• Fear not: for I am with thee. Isaiah 43:5 
• Be strong, Fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. Isaiah 35:4
• Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:7   
• Fear not; I am the first and the last.  Revelation 1:17
  

 And that's just for starters!  Did you know there are over 365 verses in the bible where God says to fear not?  God doesn't just give a command to fear not and then leaves us to our misery.  He is intimately and intricately involved in our lives.  He is the very reason why we can fear not. 

Of all of the names given to Jesus, one of my favorites has always been Immanuel.  Which means "God with us."  Every year at Christmas time I'm reminded what a precious, precious gift it is that Jesus, being fully God, was born, fully man, into a broken, messed up, fearful world.  He came to be with us.  The God of the Bible, who over and over again reminded His people with words and actions of why they should fear not, is with us. 

Yesterday. Today. Forever.  Immanuel.

Oh Father, may the very thought of that truth begin to dissipate the fear that lingers inside each of our hearts.  May your presence in that lowly manger years ago be just as real and tangible in each of our lives today.  And may we choose today to fear not.  To set our eyes on the reason we can fear not.  Immanuel, God with us.     

And because, well, who doesn't love Home Alone?!