Do not fear
December 4, 2025
By Rev. Riz Prakasim
Saying Your name, Eternal One, I called to You from the darkness of this pit.
Surely You’ve heard me say, “Don’t be deaf to my call; bring me relief!”
So close when I’ve called out in my distress, You’ve whispered in my ear, “Do not be afraid.” – Lamentations 3:55-57
Dear Church,
As we enter the sacred season of Advent, we step once again into a story that begins with an unexpected and unsettling line: “In the time of Herod…” (Luke 1:5). To modern ears, it may sound like a historical marker; but for the early church, it was a reminder that Jesus was born into a world shaped by fear; fear fueled by oppression, political instability, economic hardship, and the misuse of power. It was not a calm or peaceful time. And yet, right there in the midst of it, angels appeared with a message we still desperately need: “Do not fear.”
This Advent, we invite you to join us for a devotional journey titled “What Do You Fear?” Together, we will reflect on how the good news of Christ’s birth speaks into our own fearful world, and how naming our fears can actually make room for courage, healing, and hope.
Each week, we will gather to explore a set of devotional components designed to speak to both the heart and the imagination. Each session includes:
–A poem
–A hymn
–A reflection on two scriptures
–A piece of art & reflection for each scripture
–Guiding questions and reflections
Our hope is that in this rich blend of music, poetry, scripture, and visual art, something will resonate deeply with every person who participates.
One of our guiding scriptures comes from Lamentations 3:55–57:
“I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea… You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear.’”
These words remind us that God’s nearness is not dependent on the absence of fear. God meets us in the depths, in the unknown, in the places where we do not have all the answers. Just as Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the magi did not deny their fears, we too are invited to move through fear — with honesty, courage, and hope.
Fear can divide us, paralyze us, or be used to control and silence. But our Advent devotional dares to ask a different question: What if we formed a new relationship with fear? What if naming our fears helps us see more clearly how God is breaking in right now?
As you journey through this season, may your hope become gritty and resilient. And may you remember: hope that trembles is still hope. This Advent, let us insist on hope — because good news is always greater than fear.