Do Not Be Afraid, December 23
Inside the Cancer Journey: Daily Reflections for Those Coping with Cancer
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By Karen Tripp
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:29-30 NIV).
One of my favorite parts of the Christmas story is the appearances of angels. They show up in dreams to Joseph, come face-to-face with Mary, and fill the skies for the shepherds. As a child and even today, these stories make me eager to see an angel, even if only for a moment.
As we look at these three sightings of angels, we see they each had one thing in common. One particular phrase is said by an angel to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. Why do you think the angels kept telling the people in the Christmas story, “Do not be afraid”?
As much as I would LOVE to meet an angel, I am pretty sure I would indeed be terrified. It seems to me that any heavenly being showing up on earth in all their glory would have to be so wondrous that my mere human mind would not comprehend it. But one pattern that seems evident from the sightings of angels in the Bible is this: when an angel appears in your life, you know God wants to be heard.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have your own angel who showed up throughout your cancer journey to say, “Do not be afraid”? Maybe they’d whisper this in your ear at stop lights or before you drift off to sleep. “Do not be afraid.” I’d like to say that if an angel told me to stop being afraid, I would. But you know what? I can hold pretty tightly to my fears sometimes. I might look up at the awe-inspiring angel and say, “Yeah, I know I’m not supposed to be afraid, but what about this thing or that?” God knew some fears would be harder to let go of than others. That’s why He gave us this powerful verse:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 NIV)
This list covers it all. There is nothing—nothing—that can separate us from the love of God. We are united with God through the gift of His Son, who on the cross made us pure, clean, unblemished, untainted, and finally whole. We cannot be separated from Christ. We may experience struggles and pain, but nothing can touch this impenetrable unity.
So, do not be afraid. Rejoice in the good news of the angels! Place your name in the space below and read the verse aloud:
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to [_________]; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 NIV)
Hallelujah! The Christ Child has come! May you and yours have the merriest of Christmases!
Pray: Christ, You have come! You have come to earth to be my Lord and Savior! Through Your gift to me of faith, we are united now and forevermore. I rejoice in Your presence and shout Your praises! You are all that is good and holy and glorious to me! Take me this Christmas and lead me to the manger, so I may kneel by Your side and be renewed through the wonder of Your love. There is no finer gift than You! In Your precious name I pray. Amen.
Your Turn: One of my favorite Christmas songs, "Mary Did You Know?", spectacularly lifts me to see Christmas through the eyes of faithful Mary, mother of the Christ Child. Surround yourself with the power and awe of Jesus, "heaven's perfect Lamb," as you enjoy this song.
Karen Tripp, MS, LMFT, Cancer Caregiver
Karen is the Executive Director of Cancer Companions, the premiere national Christian cancer ministry (https://www.cancercompanion.org). Her roles have included authoring several Christian books including God is Bigger Than Your Cancer and working as a licensed marriage and family therapist. She is a daughter of a colon cancer survivor. Karen uses her experience to teach how to step into another person’s struggle to help build their faith while strengthening your own.
Cancer Companion’s vision for the future is for every person impacted by cancer to know the hope, love, and grace of Jesus and that every oncology team has included faith in their treatment toolbox. By 2033, Cancer Companions will provide 5 million engagements through cancer prayers, scriptures and interactions to those impacted by cancer. Engagements include; social media outreach, e-newsletters, prayer team requests, 30 days of Cancer Prayer event, and volunteer connections.
To learn more about our ministry and the services we provide visit our website by clicking here.
