We need not be afraid. One Advent more than any other taught me about joy, fear, and God in our midst. It was the Advent winter of 1982, when I learned that having God in our midst is like being pregnant. Many of you have either been pregnant, or been close to someone who is pregnant. If you haven't, listen closely.
Nothing quite compares to feeling the baby move, squirm, or kick.
Nothing quite compared to bringing the reality of that budding life home to me as much as feeling, within me, that growing life. Being a Christian is like being pregnant. Do not be afraid, for the Lord your God is in your midst, exulting over you with joy. We need not be afraid. Like an unborn baby, the life of God grows usually unseen within us, yet profoundly felt, and often with as much joy and anticipation as a pregnancy brings.