And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them…“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2: 8–11 (ESV)
It always amazes me how God cares for us and speaks directly to our hearts, right where we are. In these verses, the angel was bringing the shepherds the best news of all history—the hope of waiting for the Messiah for generations had finally come to an end! But when the good news finally came, they were afraid. God knows our hearts and flesh are prone to fear; yet he is gracious to speak directly to our situations so we won’t miss the One who came to set us free.
On Thanksgiving night of 2019, my middle son, Ezra Brave, suffered cardiac arrest from respiratory virus complications (RSV), when he was 21 days old. It was the darkest night of our lives. I remember praying and weeping in the ER hallway for God to miraculously move and heal our baby. Did we feel fear? Of course! When the doctors came and told us he was stable but in critical condition and was being transported to MUSC Children’s Hospital, I felt the Lord telling me: “Do not be afraid Chelsie. I am with you.”
Ezra spent the next 15 days there, and I remember the day a lady brought a Christmas tree to his room. Everything was still critical, and Ezra was still on a ventilator. We had no idea what tomorrow would bring, but we chose to keep holding on to faith. It was a humble little tree with a small star, but it meant everything. In the midst of one of the darkest moments, it served as a reminder that the good news of Jesus still shines brightly; no fears can extinguish it. In the middle of the night, God sent his son as a gift. He pursued us, even when we didn’t understand what he was doing. The great joy of Jesus shattered the darkness of being separated from God; it did the night Jesus was born, and it still is today.
Ezra’s time in the hospital changed our family and community. We saw miracle upon miracle, and he left completely healed with no issues. I can never thank God enough for his gift of Jesus in the middle of the night in a humble manger. It truly allows us to still see his light in the darkness today.
