Christmastime brings so many warm feelings of hope. We sing about peace and joy, and we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. But within the beauty of the Christmas story, we also discover lessons leaders can apply to everyday life. One of those lessons is that we don’t need to be afraid.

Fear is a common emotion in leadership. It rears its ugly head when we have to make big decisions, address difficult conflicts, or navigate uncertain times like the ones we’ve faced in 2020.

The Bible has a lot to say about fear. In fact, fear shows up in an unlikely place: the Christmas story. While we typically associate Christmas with peace and joy, fear was the first emotion to take center stage when heaven-sent angels appeared on the scene.

If an angel suddenly appeared to you, you’d probably feel afraid, too. I know I would. But in the Christmas story, fear was always followed by assurance and encouragement. And from these encounters, we discover four lessons leaders can lean into when they feel afraid.

1. God Hears Your Prayers

The first encounter with fear occurred when an angel appeared to Zechariah the priest. According to Luke 1:6, Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, were both “righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.” However, this elderly couple was childless, and it would take a miracle for their situation to turn around.

On one occasion, when Zechariah was chosen to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard” (Luke 1:13).

The angel then announced that Zechariah and Elizabeth would have a baby boy, and they were to call him John. The angel told Zechariah that John would be great in the sight of the Lord, and he would “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (verse 17).

I can only imagine what Zechariah and Elizabeth felt. They must have prayed countless times — probably for decades — asking the Lord to give them a child. Being childless was often considered a curse, and being old compounded their hopelessness. But God heard their prayers.

God hears your prayers, too. As a leader, you will face countless fears, uncertainties and hardships that will drive you to your knees. Take comfort in knowing God knows your need and is working on your behalf — even if you don’t receive an immediate answer.

2. God Keeps His Promises

Mary, the mother of Jesus, also had an encounter with an angel. When Gabriel appeared to her, he said, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30).

After telling Mary she would become the mother of the Son of God, Gabriel left her with a final word of encouragement: “No word from God will ever fail” (verse 37).

That is good news for us as well. When fear threatens to overwhelm us, we can remember the promises of God and let them build our faith. Here are just a few encouraging verses from God’s Word:

• “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
• “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
• “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
• “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
• “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Fear may be knocking
at your door, but Jesus is with you.

3. God Brings Good News

One of the most well-known encounters with angels in all of Scripture is that of the shepherds. Luke 2:8-10 says, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.’”

Once again, fear was the common reaction, but the message that followed displaced fear and brought joy and hopefulness: “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12).

In the midst of your most difficult leadership moments, God wants to remind you of His good news. Fear may be knocking at your door, but Jesus is with you.

4. God Directs Your Path

In Matthew 1–2, we read about Joseph having a series of dreams. In each dream, an angel appeared to him with a clear message.

Joseph was planning to quietly divorce Mary, but “an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins’” (Matthew 1:20-21).

The second dream is found in Matthew 2:13. Jesus had already been born, and King Herod was bent on killing the newborn King. “An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’”

The third dream happened after King Herod died. “An angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead’” (Matthew 2:19-20).

In each dream, the angel gave Joseph specific instructions on what to do next. God wants to direct our paths as well. Even in perilous times, we don’t have to be afraid. We can trust Him with our lives, ministries, and families.

When we don’t know what to do, God is faithful to lead and guide us. He gives us direction and offers us wisdom. Once we receive it, our job — like Joseph’s — is to obey. “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him” (Matthew 1:24).

Obedience always hangs in the balance when fear steps into our lives. Fear isn’t just an emotional issue; it’s an obedience issue. But when God gives us direction, the ball is in our court to obey.

Each encounter with an angel came with a word of encouragement. The word “encourage” means “to put courage into.” And that’s exactly what happened to Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. Each received a life-giving word that gave them courage.

The same will happen for you. As you lead in the face of fear, God knows exactly what you need. He hears your prayers, and He is faithful to keep His promises. God brings good news, and He directs your path. Don’t be afraid. God is with you, and He is for you.