The Daily: Tuesday December 2, 2025

In the days of the ruler Herod, there was a priest named Zechariah...Zechariah was deeply disturbed...and was overcome with fear. Luke 1:5, 13 (selected)

Fear As Information

When we look at the world Jesus was born into, we see striking similarities to our own time. Herod's empire brought violence and exhaustion. People lived with legitimate fears about their safety and future. Sound familiar? Whether it's global headlines that make us anxious or personal struggles like health concerns, family tensions, or financial worries, we too live in uncertain times. But here's what we often miss: fear isn't failure. It's information.

When Zechariah encountered the angel in the temple, his terror wasn't a sign of weak faith - it was his soul recognizing that something significant was happening. Fear tells us that something matters deeply to us. It's our body's way of saying, 'Pay attention. This is important.' The problem isn't having fear; it's what we do with it. We can fight it, flee from it, freeze in it, or try to please our way out of it. But when we camp out in any of these responses, fear begins to narrow our world and shrink our imagination. Instead, we can learn to listen to what our fear is telling us and then choose how to respond with wisdom rather than reaction.

Reflection Question
What is one fear you're currently experiencing, and what important information might it be trying to give you about what matters most to you?

Prayer
God, help me to see my fears not as failures but as information about what I care deeply about. Give me wisdom to listen to what my fear is telling me and courage to respond with faith rather than reaction. Amen.