Christmas for Kids: 12 Days of PeaceSample

# Peace: The Cure for Fear ### By Nick K. STORY One time, my family and I were watching some lions at the zoo. One of the kids in our group was running back and forth in front of the lions’ cage, which was one of those really tall fences that lean in at the top to keep lions from jumping over them. As the kid was running, one of the lions began to follow him. At first, it was funny to watch this huge lion follow this little kid back and forth, but as the kid continued running I began to feel uneasy. That was because a lion is an incredibly large and dangerous creature. The look in the lion’s eyes showed me how different reading about something so powerful and having it right in front of you is, and how it can change the way you see the world. SCRIPTURE Read Luke 1:28–30. THINK Why was Mary so scared? Angels and lions are both powerful, but make us feel scared in very different ways. The Bible is full of stories of people encountering angels and seeing all kinds of spiritual beings.  Most of the time, they either try to worship or fall on the ground out of fear. Even in cases where God Himself shows up (covered in clouds or fire), it could look and sound really scary. When God rescued the people of Israel from Egypt, He presented Himself in such a way. The people were so scared that they begged Moses to talk to God for them. The good news for us is that like the angel said to Mary, we have God’s favor, His love, His affection. Because of Jesus, we are able to stand in the very presence of God and see Him as He is! We can have peace in His presence. DO SOMETHING God is around you even when you don’t feel Him. Take some time right now to sit and pray silently. PRAY Dear God, thank You for the peace You bring through Jesus. I can be with You without fear because I belong to Him. Help me to remember that You’re always close to me. Amen.