Imagine the fear that Mary, a virgin, felt when an angel told her she had been chosen to be Mom to the Son of God. (What?!) Yet in the midst of fear and questions, Mary chose to trust God.

When we think about the nativity story, we don’t typically think of fear. Yet in just about every one of these stories in the opening chapters of Matthew and Luke, people are first encouraged to “fear not.” With a future of such promise and hope, why were people so prone to fear? Perhaps the same question could be asked, “Why are we?”

Oftentimes our fears grab hold when we lose confidence that God is really near and at work in our lives. Yet God instructs us to “fear not” because He is with us. Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid; take courage; 
I am here!” (Matthew 14:27).

So what are you afraid of? What fears attack the most precious parts of your life and keep you from living the life meant for you? God wants to help us overcome our deepest fears as we learn to "Fear Not".

• Dec. 6  Joseph: What will people think? (fear of rejection) Matthew 1:18-25
• Dec. 13  Herod: I’m in charge here! (fear of losing control) Matthew 2:1-18
• Dec. 20  Shepherds: This doesn’t make sense! (fear of unknown) Luke 2:1-20
• Dec. 24  Mary: I can’t do this! (fear of inadequacy) Luke 1:26-38
• Dec. 27  Zechariah: What if this doesn’t work? (fear of failure) Luke 1:5-25