This blog is part four of a four-part Advent series.

Dr. Pam Davis

It is nearly Christmas, and yet I have heightened awareness that many are living with some measure of fear. Some are afraid that they won’t have enough money to travel or buy gifts for their loved ones. Others are afraid that family dysfunction during holiday gatherings will overshadow the expectation of goodness and cheer. Still others worry that they will find themselves alone on Christmas morning, or that memories of loss will cast a dark shadow over the sparkling lights glistening everywhere, or that their children will become chaotic with the changes to family routines. As a professional counselor who sits with people in pain, I know that the holidays are not always filled with “tidings of comfort and joy.” In fact, heightened feelings of anxiety and distress at Christmas are so common that there’s an actual condition called Christougenniatikophobia – the fear of Christmas.

And yet fear and Christmas have been juxtaposed for millennia. Mary was afraid and deeply troubled when she first learned she was pregnant. Joseph was afraid to make Mary his wife when he learned of her pregnancy. The shepherds were very afraid when the angels came to tell them about Christ’s birth. King Herod was so afraid of the baby Jesus that he ordered the death of all male babies under the age of two, terrified that Jesus would threaten his political power.

Fear is at the heart of the Christmas story.  This truth is a hidden gift to those who struggle with fear, anxiety, and stress at Christmastime. Fear is powerful, but the love of Jesus is more powerful. We can let go of fear because the birth of Jesus promises us that God’s perfect love, embodied in the baby Jesus, is bigger than fear.

This Christmas, when you feel the anxiety of consumerism, or the dread of family gatherings, or the fear of loneliness, lean into God’s presence. Whisper the name Immanuel. Remind yourself that the birth of Jesus is a powerful promise that God still shows up.  In the midst of deep uncertainties, Immanuel – God is with us.  When loss feels devastating, Immanuel – God is with us. When the chaos of this world feels overwhelming, Immanuel – God is with us.  When the anxiety of expectations at Christmas gives way to panic and dread, Immanuel – God is with us. This is the highest gift of Christmas! God’s love came in the form of a baby, Mary’s son, and his love is still here with us, holding us, comforting us, and helping us conquer our fears.

Dr. Pam Davis is associate professor of counseling and director of graduate programs in counseling