Do Not Be Afraid

I love the story of Jesus’ birth, and especially the details surrounding Mary.

Young, a virgin, and betrothed to Joseph, we read in Luke about her encounter with the angel Gabriel.

“And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!’ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.'” {Luke 1: 28-33}

Do not be Afraid.

If an angel of God had visited me, I am sure that I would have been filled with fear. Gabriel knew that, so he begins his greeting with an assurance for Mary: “You are a favored one and the Lord is with you.”

Consider the magnitude of what was going to happen to her — a baby, no, a holy child, conceived by a virgin girl. How could this be? And what would people say? What would Joseph do?

It would have been completely understandable if Mary was overcome with fear. Instead we read that she goes to visit Elizabeth, and just as the angel had told her, she too was pregnant. A woman who had been called barren was also expecting a miracle. Is it possible? Could this all be true?

What I love most is Mary’s response. A song of praise to God, a humble offering to God.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His offspring forever.” {Luke 1:46-55}

My soul magnifies the Lord.

I love the strong faith of this young girl. Mary is surprised with an incredible blessing, but it comes at a cost. Joseph could leave her and decide not to marry her. What would he think? And this child . . . the one the angel calls holy?

Imagine the magnitude of being the mother to the Christ child!

But Mary celebrates the opportunity. She trusts God with all of the details and even goes a step further. She praises Him for it.

We are fast approaching another new year. There have been times I have entered in a new year filled with dread at what was to come. I don’t typically thrive in the unknown. I like a plan, one that I can map out and control.

But reading this story of Mary stirs in my heart a desire to have a response like hers. Friends, we will face the unknown, some of us may experience a job change, the loss of a family member, an unwanted medical diagnosis. All of these things can place a blanket of fear over us.

But what if in these moments we seek to shed the chains of fear and instead walk forward with a song of praise on our lips? Trusting that the God who sent His Son for us, born to a virgin girl, is with us in all the unknown and we do not have to be afraid.

I walk forward in that truth today.

[linebreak]

Related: Adorn your home and encourage your heart with the Scripture scripted on this beautiful art print.