Through Stained Glass: Advent Word of the Day-Don't Be Afraid

Lyrics to Don't Be Afraid

Don't be afraid, my love is stronger,

My love is stronger than your fear.

Don't be afraid, my love is stronger,

And I have promised to be always near

Day 20:  Don’t Be Afraid

Jesus said to the disciples, “Don’t be afraid…” [Mark 6.50]

It is a mantra throughout scripture.

When things are about to get intense or when things are about to change, words Presbyterians have a hard time with, the messenger often begins, “Do not be afraid…”

Don’t

Be

Afraid.

You know what drives society these days, according to some researchers?

Our own unworthiness.

We are afraid of letting people see who we really are and potentially exposing ourselves, so we avoid the one thing that can make us more courageous: vulnerability. In fact Brenee Brown, a researcher at the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work and author of the best-selling Daring Greatly, says courage and vulnerability are closely aligned and the two qualities can greatly improve our lives.

Being courageous can be scary in and of itself. And at the risk of sounding like one of those pop-Christianity clichés, but these words have comforted me many times:

“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.” ~ Mary Anne Radmacher

I guess that is what makes what comes at the end of Advent so profound.

When God could have remained with Godself, when God could have stepped back, when God could have give up, God did the opposite. God entered fully into the story when She took on flesh. It is as if God owned God’s story.

God

                           Became

                                                      Vulnerable.

Again, Brenee Brown says, “Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable.”

Expressing your vulnerability, accepting who you are and letting go of who you think you should be in the process are the key steps to feeling worthy of love and belonging.

Which we all are worthy of:

Love

and

Belonging.

Don’t be afraid to be yourself. God wants nothing more than that from you.

In a time where everyone is trying to be the next big this or that, be yourself, as ordinary as that sounds.

Because what the world needs is you.

And that, that is pretty extraordinary.

In the birth of Christ we see the vulnerability of God.

And vulnerability is the birthplace of love.

Love is our destiny. Love is our name.

Don't be afraid...