Moving Past Fear: Obeying God’s Good Plan

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Intrusion Invites Us to Move Past Fear

When God interrupts our ordinary lives—whether through dramatic events or quiet promptings—it can be startling, uncomfortable, or even frightening. Yet, as seen with the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth, God’s message is always for our good, bringing great joy and hope. The challenge is not to let fear paralyze us, but to trust that what God brings is ultimately for our blessing and the blessing of others. When heaven invades earth, it may disrupt our plans, but it also opens the door to God’s greater purposes. [35:10]

Luke 2:8-14 (ESV)
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, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said 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. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Reflection: When has God disrupted your comfort or plans, and how did you respond—did fear hold you back, or did you step forward in trust?

Day 2: Saying Yes to God’s Call Brings Transformation

The shepherds, like Mary, Joseph, and Zacharias, chose to say “yes” to God’s invitation, even when it was scary or costly. Their obedience led to joy, transformation, and participation in God’s unfolding story. In contrast, others—like the pig farmers who witnessed Jesus’ miracle—let fear and the cost of change keep them from embracing God’s work. The difference lies in our willingness to trust God’s goodness and step out in faith, even when the outcome is uncertain. [37:40]

Luke 2:15-20 (ESV)
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Reflection: What is one area where God is prompting you to say “yes” despite your fears, and what step of obedience can you take today?

Day 3: Knowing God’s Heart Helps Us Trust and Obey

Those who moved past their fear—like the shepherds, Mary, Joseph, and Zacharias—did so because they knew God’s character: His faithfulness, kindness, and love. The more we know God, the more we can trust Him, even when He asks us to do hard or unexpected things. Drawing near to God through Scripture, prayer, and listening for His voice builds our confidence in His goodness and helps us obey, even when we are afraid. [44:56]

Psalm 9:10 (ESV)
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Reflection: How can you intentionally grow in your knowledge of God’s heart this week, so that you can trust Him more fully when He calls you to step out?

Day 4: God’s Goodness Is Worth the Cost of Obedience

Obeying God may require us to let go of comfort, security, or our own plans, but what He has in mind is always good—both for His kingdom and for us. Even when obedience is costly or leads us into the unknown, God’s faithfulness ensures that nothing is wasted, and He can turn even difficulties for our good and His glory. The testimony of those who have obeyed is that God provides, blesses, and transforms beyond what we could imagine. [44:31]

Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Reflection: What is something you are afraid to lose if you obey God’s leading, and how might trusting in His goodness change your perspective?

Day 5: Draw Near to God—He Will Draw Near to You

God promises that if we seek Him, He will meet us. Even when we struggle to want what God wants, we can pray honestly, asking Him to help us desire Him above all else. Creating space to listen, reading Scripture, and opening our hearts in prayer are ways to draw near and experience His presence. As we do, our fears diminish and our trust grows, enabling us to follow Him with courage and joy. [49:56]

James 4:8 (ESV)
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Reflection: Set aside ten minutes today to be still before God—what do you sense He is saying to you as you draw near in quietness and openness?

Sermon Summary

Fear is a natural response when God suddenly interrupts our ordinary lives. The shepherds in the fields were terrified when the angel appeared, and for good reason—heaven had invaded earth in a way that was overwhelming and unexpected. Yet, the angel’s first words were, “Don’t be afraid. I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” This is a pattern throughout Scripture: when God breaks in, it is often unsettling, but always for our good. The challenge is whether we will let fear stop us from saying yes to God’s invitation.

Throughout history, people have responded differently to God’s sudden call. Zacharias, Mary, and Joseph all faced fear, but they moved past it because they knew God’s heart and trusted His promises. The shepherds, too, left their flocks and hurried to see the newborn Messiah, their lives forever marked by their obedience. In contrast, the pig farmers who witnessed Jesus deliver a demon-possessed man were so unsettled by the disruption and the cost that they asked Jesus to leave. The difference lies in knowing God—those who know Him can move past fear and step into obedience, trusting that what He brings is ultimately good.

God’s interruptions are not always dramatic. Sometimes they come as quiet promptings, a nudge to step out in faith, to leave comfort behind, or to pursue a new direction. I shared my own story of leaving behind a settled, happy life to follow God’s call back to Malaysia. It was uncomfortable and scary, but obedience led to blessings and opportunities beyond what I could have imagined. Each time we say yes, we see more of God’s faithfulness, and our trust in Him grows.

For many, the struggle is not just with fear, but with desire. Sometimes we don’t even want to want what God wants. But even here, God invites us to be honest: “Lord, help me to want to want your will.” As we draw near to Him—through Scripture, prayer, and quiet listening—He reveals His heart, and we find the courage to obey. The good news is that God is kind, faithful, and generous. Whatever He asks of us, we can trust that His intentions are for our good and for His kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. Moving Past Fear Requires Knowing God Fear is a natural response to God’s sudden interruptions, but those who know God’s heart can move beyond fear into obedience. Trust is not built in a moment; it grows as we see God’s faithfulness over time. When we know the character of God, we can risk saying yes, even when it’s uncomfortable or costly. [38:23]
2. Obedience Opens the Door to Transformation The shepherds’ willingness to leave their flocks and obey the angel’s message led to a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Obedience often means stepping into the unknown, but it is in that space that God’s promises become real and our lives are transformed. The alternative—clinging to comfort—may keep us safe, but it also keeps us from experiencing God’s best. [35:36]
3. God’s Disruptions Are Always for Our Good Whether through dramatic angelic visitations or quiet promptings, God’s interruptions are invitations to participate in His greater story. While the cost may seem high, what God brings is always good, even if it doesn’t look like what we expect. Trusting His goodness allows us to embrace the unknown with hope. [34:37]
4. Honest Prayer Leads to Deeper Trust Sometimes our struggle is not just with fear, but with our own desires. God welcomes our honesty—He invites us to pray, “Help me to want to want your will.” As we draw near to Him in vulnerability, He meets us, shapes our hearts, and gives us the courage to obey. [49:23]
5. Drawing Near to God Grows Our Faith The more we immerse ourselves in Scripture, prayer, and listening for God’s voice, the more we come to know His heart. This knowledge is the foundation for trust, enabling us to move past fear and step into the life He has for us. [49:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:54] - The Power of Saying Yes
[24:22] - Preparing Our Hearts
[24:39] - Why the Shepherds Were Afraid
[25:41] - Jacob’s Unique Response
[26:27] - The Angel’s Announcement
[28:24] - The Armies of Heaven Appear
[29:27] - Heaven Invades Ordinary Life
[30:07] - God’s Interruptions and Our Response
[31:15] - Mary and Joseph’s Costly Obedience
[32:22] - The Demon-Possessed Man and the Pig Farmers
[34:37] - The Cost of God’s Disruption
[35:36] - The Shepherds’ Obedience and Joy
[38:23] - Knowing God Enables Obedience
[39:04] - Modern Stories of God’s Intrusion
[42:19] - Personal Story: Saying Yes to God
[44:31] - God’s Faithfulness in Obedience
[46:07] - God’s Promptings in Our Lives
[48:44] - Moving Past Fear Through Trust
[49:23] - Honest Prayers and Desire
[49:56] - Drawing Near to God
[51:07] - Trusting God With Our Fears
[52:14] - Prayer for Obedience and Trust

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

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### Bible Reading

**Luke 2:8-20 (ESV)**
> 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, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said 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. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

**Matthew 1:18-25 (ESV)**
> Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

**Mark 5:1-20 (ESV)**
> [Condensed: The story of Jesus delivering the demon-possessed man and the response of the pig farmers, who asked Jesus to leave after their pigs were lost.]

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### Observation Questions

What was the shepherds’ initial reaction when the angel appeared to them, and how did the angel address their fear? (Luke 2:9-10; [27:16])
According to the sermon, what did the shepherds do after the angels left, and how did their actions show obedience? ([35:36])
How did Mary and Joseph each respond to God’s message delivered by the angel, and what risks did their obedience involve? (Matthew 1:20-24; [31:15])
In the story of the demon-possessed man and the pig farmers, how did the townspeople respond to Jesus’ miracle, and what does this reveal about their priorities? (Mark 5:14-17; [33:48])

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### Interpretation Questions

The angel’s first words to the shepherds were “Don’t be afraid.” Why do you think fear is such a common response when God interrupts our lives, and what does this say about our expectations of God? ([27:16])
The shepherds, Mary, and Joseph all faced fear but chose to obey. What do their stories suggest about the relationship between knowing God and being able to move past fear? ([38:23])
The pig farmers asked Jesus to leave after witnessing a miracle because of the disruption and cost. What does this response teach about the potential cost of obedience and the temptation to cling to comfort? ([34:37])
The sermon mentioned that sometimes our struggle is not just with fear, but with desire—not even wanting what God wants. How does honest prayer help us in these moments, according to the message? ([49:23])

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### Application Questions

The shepherds left their flocks and hurried to see Jesus, risking their livelihood and comfort. Is there something in your life right now that you sense God might be asking you to leave behind or risk in order to obey Him? What would it look like to say “yes” even if you feel afraid? ([35:36])
The pig farmers valued their pigs and comfort over the miracle Jesus performed. Are there areas in your life where you might be choosing comfort or security over following God’s leading? How can you identify and address these areas? ([34:37])
The sermon shared a personal story about leaving a settled, happy life to follow God’s call, which led to unexpected blessings. Have you ever experienced a time when obedience to God led to blessings or growth you didn’t expect? What did you learn from that experience? ([44:31])
Sometimes, as the sermon said, we don’t even want to want what God wants. Is there an area where you struggle with your desires versus God’s will? How could you begin to pray honestly about this, as suggested in the message? ([49:23])
The message emphasized that trust in God grows as we see His faithfulness over time. What are some practical ways you can draw near to God this week—through Scripture, prayer, or listening—to help build your trust in Him? ([49:56])
The angel’s message was “good news of great joy for all people.” How can you share the joy and hope of Jesus with someone in your life this week, especially if it feels uncomfortable or risky? ([27:16])
The sermon encouraged creating space to listen for God’s voice. What is one step you can take this week to make room for quiet, honest listening to God in your daily routine? ([50:38])

Sermon Clips

Yes, Jesus coming into your life, into our life, might bring transformation. This man from crazy demon-possessed to being perfectly sane and well. But the price, the loss of income, what else would Jesus cause us to lose? What else would he overturn in our lives? No, thank you. We like our lives the way they are. Even though there is kind of like a crazy demon-possessed man over there. It's not very good. It's okay. We can put up with bad things. We like things to stay this way. It is scary and unpredictable when heaven invades earth, when God intrudes into our ordinary. [00:34:11] (46 seconds) #TransformationRequiresSacrifice

God's intrusion into our daily lives may be shocking, startling, or may be just uncomfortable and unpredictable. But the angels are saying it is good. What God has is good. How did they respond? When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds say to each other, let's go. Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. They said yes. They said yes. They left their flocks and went to see this thing that the Lord had told them about. [00:35:10] (38 seconds) #RespondWithFaith

Perhaps the shepherds could move past their fear and obey because they knew God. They knew his heart. They knew that God had promised a savior. Perhaps that's also why Zacharias, Mary, and Joseph could move past their fear and obey God too, because they knew him. If we know God's heart for us, if we know him, we can move past our fear and obey him. [00:38:15] (32 seconds) #KnowingGodMovesFear

But for the rest of us, we may not get actual visitations from angels or hear God's audible voice. I have not. I have not. Most people have not. But God has indeed intruded in my happy ordinary life and asked me to do things, inconvenient, uncomfortable, scary things. Many times he disrupted my life, invaded my world, and all those times fear threatened to stop me from obeying. [00:41:47] (31 seconds) #GodCallsUs

If you're not sure, check with your mentor or your connect group leaders or any of the pastors here so they can discern together with you. Then go for it. What's the worst that could happen? A lot could happen. But it's okay. God's got it. Even when the worst happens, God's got it. We can move past our fears and obey God because we know the good God of Israel. [00:48:27] (28 seconds) #ListenInSilence

He is good. He is kind. He is patient. He is generous. He is faithful. When we call him, he hears us. He never abandons us. What he starts, he will finish. But perhaps this is where you need to grow in, to know God in order to trust him and move past the fear and obey. [00:48:56] (23 seconds) #TrustNotFear

At lunch, we were talking about the prayer during our family lunch. The prayer to say, Lord, I really want to, but I don't want to, but I want to want to. Please help me to want to. That is a good prayer. Start there. Lord, I want to want to. You know that song, Holy Spirit, you're all we want. But he isn't. So, what do I do with that? Then you come to God and say, I really want you to be all I want, but you're not. So, help me make that true in my life. Help me want you above everything else. [00:49:19] (34 seconds) #ObeyLikeShepherds

Ask God to help you know him. God promised if we draw near to him, he will draw near to us. He promised, he promised, if we draw near to him, he will draw near to us. And the best way to draw near is through reading scripture, reading the Bible, learning God's heart and character in the way that he relates with humanity. [00:49:54] (21 seconds)

Don't be afraid, the angel said. I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. Are you afraid? Do you trust God? Maybe you don't even want to trust God. You can ask God to help you want to trust him. Whatever you are in your journey. Don't be scared. Don't be scared. Don't be scared. What God has in mind for you is good. You can trust him. [00:51:05] (31 seconds)

God, please make us like the shepherds. That even though we were afraid, we would obey. Lord, help us know you. When we know you, we can move past our fears. Help us want your way and not our good. Help us want your best. Not just for ourselves, but for your kingdom. I pray that you help our eyes to move from us to you. To know that you are the good God of Israel. The faithful God. The promise keeper. And we need not be afraid. [00:52:15] (62 seconds)

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