The Angels...and the fear

From Joseph:
" But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."

And Mary:
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."

And the shepherds...
9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

Have you noticed a reactionary theme?  Joseph, Mary, and the shepherds were just going about their normal, every day lives, and then surprise!  A shadow of a figure appears to them...an angel?  A shadow?  A ghost?  What is that?  Why me?  And when the angel appears to each of them, they are scared out of their minds.  I mean really....wouldn't you shake in your boots a little?  A lot?

Fear...it's one of the things we all have experienced and will continue to experience.  Some fears are temporary, like a dark room, a monster under the bed...and some stay with us...of not making this month's paycheck stretch to pay all the bills, of not knowing what the future holds, of not being enough of a mother, a partner...of not being a "good enough" Christian...

Whatever the fear, let's just admit that we all have them.  But read the good news found here...in the lives of some of the most important figures of our faith, they feared...they had moments when they were shaking, terrified of what God was asking them to do.  And even though they were scared, God did not discount them or their faith.  God said you'll be ok...I want to use you any way.  

Even though they were scared and they didn't know what God would do or how God would do it, they moved forward. Each character took that next step, even though they were shaky steps.

Face your fears today, knowing that when you walk forward, God walks alongside you, quieting you with his love.