Listen:
Matthew 1:20-23
As he was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child she carries was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:
Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son,
And they will call him, Immanuel.
Consider:
Joseph was caught in a seriously confusing moment. Everything he thought he knew about Mary and his future had evaporated in a matter of minutes. Yet in the middle of his anxiety, God speaks:
“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid…” (v. 20)
God doesn’t wait for Joseph to figure things out; God steps into Joseph’s moment of fear and directly addresses it. Joseph doesn’t even have much time to see the crisis before him before God interjects words of calm and reassurance.
Joseph’s world was shaking, but God was near and quick to remind him of that. And the same is true for us. The very name Immanuel means “God with us.” I’m not sure God could have gotten any plainer in God’s message of presence than this! Every time we feel overwhelmed by something that feels bigger than what we can manage, God is whispering “don’t be afraid…I’ve got this with you!”
Respond:
Fear is very real, and cannot be wished away…but fear can be managed, put into perspective, and calmed. Take 5 minutes today to name three fears you are currently experiencing/holding onto (little, big, it doesn’t matter, just be honest about them). Try naming each fear aloud on an inhale, and on the exhale, say “I am not afraid because I am not alone.” Over the course of the day, say it 2-3 more times…as we practice noticing and naming our fears, we can also practice remembering that we never go it alone.
Pray:
Loving Lord, sometimes what we fear the most is our own ability to manage what is before us. Just as you did with Joseph, remind us of your presence and calm us with your words of hope. Amen.
