When you read the Christmas story have you ever considered how terrified the shepherds must have been? They were poor ordinary people just doing their job – tending to the sheep out in the fields – while the town was busy and full of people. Their life was hard, but routine. Then one night things were suddenly out of control. The shepherds were dumbfounded by a brilliant angel lighting up the sky. The glory of God surrounded them so they had no place to escape. Think how frightened and helpless they must have felt. They were caught in the crosshairs of God. There was nothing they could do to escape.

The angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

There is a sense in which none of us can experience the joy of Jesus until life goes beyond our control like it did for the shepherds. But you say, “The shepherds saw Jesus that day and that’s where they got their joy. We can’t see him anymore.”

Listen to this good news in the New Testament: “Though you have not seen him, you love him. And even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.”

Trusting in Jesus in the best of times and in the worst of times will fill us with joy – just like the shepherds!