As a progressive, I believe there are many names for God and many ways to God – this article reflects one of those ways. Take from here what works for you. Celebrate life with joy and peace!
“Don’t be afraid!” How many times have you heard that? We’ve all said it, trying to comfort someone or give them strength. Matthew 1 talks about a lot of pressure on a young couple. Mary, most likely a teenager, was engaged to be married and just found out she’s pregnant – and at the time of Jesus’ birth, to be engaged and then to become pregnant by another man was sadly not just a religious violation, but also was shrouded with such shame, causing social rejection and even the penalty of death. To say that Mary and Joseph were afraid is an understatement. More like petrified, horrified and terrified! So the angel says, “Do not be afraid!”
These are timely words – maybe that’s why they’re called angels – saying, or doing just the right thing at the right time. You know we have angels all around us – and there are angels in our midst.
Rev. J. Holub put together a list of “Do not be afraids!” and I’ve added a few of my own:
Joseph, fearing the consequences of Mary’s pregnancy, was about to leave her, until an angel appeared and said to Joseph, “Do not be afraid!”
The angel said the same thing to Mary. Looking into her eyes, I’m sure the angel saw fear and panic. So the angel said to Mary, “Don’t be afraid!”
One of the most common and repeated biblical mandates is, “Don’t be afraid!” Over and over again we hear the imperative, “Do not be afraid!”
All the way in Genesis, God calls Abraham to a whole new way of life, and one of the first words out of God’s mouth was, “Don’t be afraid!”
In Exodus, the people of God were fleeing the slavery of Egypt. Pharaoh, having second thoughts, sent his army after them. Caught between the Red Sea on one side and Pharaoh’s vicious advancing army on the other, Moses says to a panicking people, “Don’t be afraid!”
Centuries later, six hundred years before the birth of Jesus, the people of God are exiled in Babylon, feeling despair, and the prophet Isaiah arrives, and speaking for God to the people, says, “Don’t be afraid!”
Peter, suddenly feeling totally inadequate in the presence of Jesus, falls to his knees in fear, and Jesus gently assures him by picking him up with the words, “Don’t be afraid!”
Arguing about the importance of material things, Jesus talks to his disciples about how God will supply all of their needs. Seeing the look of fear on their faces, Jesus says with a loving smile, “Don’t be afraid!”
The disciples, caught in a horrible storm in the middle of the sea are terrified, and Jesus comes to them, walking on the water, and the first thing he says is, “Don’t be afraid!”
Jesus, telling his disciples that he will soon be gone from their midst, senses their fear and assures them with the words, “Don’t be afraid!”
Some fear is good. There is such a thing as healthy fear. Healthy fear is a defensive, self-preserving reaction to a perceived threat. Fear can be protective.
But fear “out of control” can paralyze us. It can be used to manipulate us and distort the truth. Fear sells – it sells everything from home security systems to insurance to protective computer software – even beauty products and gym memberships!
Why do you think we hear the phrase, “Don’t be afraid!” over and over again? Because God knows how real and powerful fear is, and how easily we can be controlled by fear if we give in to it.
I love the power of this truth; perfect love casts out all fear! What is one of the names for God? God is love. Perfect love casts out all fear.
There was a lot of talk after Carrie Underwood played Maria in The Sound of Music Live, and one of my favorite scenes is during the thunderstorm – her first night with the kids – when they all come running into her room; and it was the power of her love for them that calmed and comforted them and took away their fear. Oh, the power of love, along with raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens!
Sometimes it’s not fear of failure that paralyzes us, but fear of success. I love this quote from Marianne Williamson, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Let perfect love into your life; into your being; into your consciousness. Let that love cast out all fear.
As the angel said, “Do not be afraid!” Let the angels in your midst continue to minister to you, and may these comforting words go with you this New Year: “Don’t be afraid, you are fabulous!”
Rev. Dan Koeshall is the senior pastor at The Metropolitan Community Church (The Met), 2633 Denver Street, San Diego, California, themetchurch.org. Services every Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m.
