Luke 1:26-30
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 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.
Tag: God calms our fears
The above story of the announcement to Mary about the birth of Jesus. This young virgin girl would be the mother of the Savior of the mankind. When the angel, Gabriel, appeared to her, like all those in the Bible do when confronted with a celestial being, she trembled. Her fears would be normal and expected. She was fearful of the unknown. We have no idea where this occurred. If it was in her home, her bedroom, or by a well as she fetched water. God sent Gabriel to inform her of God's plan for her life. It says she was "greatly troubled at the saying." The "saying" was that she had found favor with God and that she the Lord was with her. It is safe to say we all would be troubled with this type of message. Think of Moses and the burning bush. Think of the prophet Isaiah. Think of Jonah. Think of Jacob at Bethel. Think of David on the threshing floor. Think of Elijah in the midst of depression. Think of Paul on the Damascus Road. Each of these had a special encounter with either an angel, a Theophany of Christ, or God's voice. To each of them their encounter brought fear and a sense of awe and fear. Yet, in the midst of the encounter with God, they found peace. God calmed their fears. God spoke to them for some service and then calmed their spirits. Even in Jonah's disobedience God sought to calm his fears. It is fear that keeps us from coming to God. Yet, God is there to calm our fears. He knows we are fearful. He will be there to calm the fears as He uses us for great things.
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