Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Matthew 1:18–24

As I sat down to pray with Sunday's gospel, I asked the Lord, what do Your precious daughters need to hear? 

He brought to mind your faces, your hearts, your stories, your longings, and your fears. I was reminded that even though Christmas is only a few days away, the world doesn't stop spinning, and not everything is perfect. Certainly, our hearts are not. 

Each one of us carries so much more in our hearts than anyone around us ever realizes. But the Lord sees, and He cares deeply. 

No, not everything is merry and bright. Things are broken. Sin exists. And that is exactly why we need a Savior, for we cannot save ourselves. 

I pray these words speak to you. I pray that you draw a little closer to Him today. Because He is with you. He is love come down from heaven. He is the One who has held you in His mind's eye from all eternity. 

Like Joseph, may you hear Him, trust Him with your life, and follow where He leads. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from your need to be perfect, to carry the weight of the world, to prove your worth.

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the ruminating anxiety that keeps you awake at night. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the lie that you are an orphan, that you are alone, that you are unlovable. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the lie that everything needs to be perfect for this Christmas to be memorable and good, from the fear that you're not doing enough, from the anxiety that you don't have enough Christmases left. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the ache of missing a loved one, from the grief that returns unexpectedly and without warning.

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from your despair and shame, from the lie that you are called by your sin and not your name. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the grief of losing a child, the silent wounds of miscarriage, from the lie that your worth or joy depends upon your fertility. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the chains of unforgiveness, the resentment hardening your heart, the wound that keeps festering.

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the dry season where you long to hear His voice, from spiritual numbness, from apathy. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the constant pressure to be strong, the sadness you hide so well, the feeling that you are a burden, the lie that you are too much. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the quiet of the empty house that used to be full, the question of whether you are worth more than your motherhood, the heartache of letting go of your children so that they might fly, the fear that your best years are behind you. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the discouragement of dreams deferred, the fear you've wasted too much time, the dread of starting over. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the weariness of caring for a loved one who is aging, sick, or dying, from the physical and mental exhaustion, from the loneliness that sometimes accompanies this journey.

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the lie that joy will never come again. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the pain of a marriage that is broken or feels lonely.

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the guilt you carry as a mother, from the heartache of a prodigal child. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the fear of surrendering your life entirely to Him.

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the need to wear a mask, to perform, to hide your true self.

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the pain of betrayal and the ache of a broken friendship. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from fear of the unknown, from distrust, from anxiety of the future, from regrets of the past. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the lie that healing will never come.

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the lie that this waiting is useless and has no purpose. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the fear of aging and the frustration of a body that's changing.

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you from the lies of the enemy. 

Do not be afraid, Emmanuel is with you.
He will save you. 

And how is this possible? 

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Who is still overshadowing the world. The same Spirit Who hovered over the waters at creation; the Spirit Who overshadowed Mary and conceived the Word made flesh; the Spirit Who was descended at Pentecost; the Spirit Who anointed you in Baptism and sealed you in Confirmation; the Spirit of holiness Who moves about us today, communicating His love, illuminating truth, restoring, convicting, healing, and making all things new. 

My sister, the angel's words that were spoken to Joseph are spoken to you: Do not be afraid. 

In the Lord we can place our trust. In Him we can surrender our lives.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
O come, O come, Emmanuel.

Food for thought or journaling … 

Which of these speaks most to your heart in this current season? Bring them before Him in these final days of Advent. 

Pray with "Light of the World (Behold)" by Lauren Daigle. Listen here.