Fear not for I bring you tidings of great joy
An exploration of, and reflection on, fear. The title is drawn from the message of the angel to the shepherds in the Nativity story. It’s long – in 7 parts! I reckon I must have a lot of fear to consider. Each part begins with a fear of something, and then considers God speaking to us. I fear you’re in for a long haul if you stick with this, but I hope it will be uplifting.
Part 1
Father, I am afraid.
Afraid of what might happen. Of losing what I have. Of people hurting me. And worst of all, hurting those I love.
Do not be afraid. You cannot be invincible and invulnerable. It is not possible; even to dream of it is just a fantasy. If you want to live, you have to be open to being hurt. Did I not teach you this when I opened wide my arms for you? Life is a risk; you have to accept that everything may indeed be taken from you. Loss hurts only to the degree that you love, and you do want to love, don’t you? I cannot protect you fully; I can only guide you. I do promise to stick by you, no matter what. Even if all others desert you, I will stand by you. I cannot stop your heart being broken; I made it that way. It is meant to break, as a sign to you and to others that what you hold dear is more precious to you than life itself. I can only promise to weep with you, and hold you while you weep. And though your heart will never mend to be what it was, the very wound you’ve suffered will become more precious to you than life itself. And I know the bitter injustice of it, and this drives the hurt so much deeper. I cannot answer this now, but I go out into the darkness to howl my rage. I can do no more than this and I am God. To live is to hope, and that is what I give you. The message of Christmas is that I am with you. I gave myself to you completely, and that is also the sign that I will always give myself for you- to the very end of the age. And after that, only I know – but the hope that I give you stretches over that void of unknowing.
Spiritual Devotion 