Doubt Turns to Joy
"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." - Luke 2:15-16
Imagine being out in the fields at night, just minding your own business, when an angel appears out of nowhere with a message that changes everything. This is what happened to a group of shepherds, men considered low on the social scale, probably not used to getting any kind of special treatment.
And yet, the angel appeared to them with the most incredible news: the Savior of the world had been born nearby. The angel didn’t just tell them the news but invited them to see it for themselves, giving exact details of where they would find Jesus.
I can only imagine the doubts that must have crept in as the shepherds looked at each other, trying to process what had just happened. Maybe they thought, “Are we really worthy of such a message?” or “Did that just happen, or are we losing it?”
They had every reason to question it, to chalk it up to some strange dream, but instead, they chose to trust what they’d been told. They packed up, left their sheep, and went on their way to Bethlehem, determined to see this Savior with their own eyes.
When they arrived and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby just as the angel had said, their doubts disappeared. The truth was right in front of them, and in that moment, what began as skepticism turned into undeniable faith.
They met Jesus face-to-face, and that experience filled them with a joy they’d never known. This joy didn’t just stay with them, it transformed them. They couldn’t keep it to themselves, they had to tell others. They became some of the very first to spread the good news of Jesus, and those who heard them were amazed.
The shepherds returned to their fields, but they were no longer the same people. They glorified and praised God for everything they had seen and heard. The encounter with Jesus changed their lives, turning doubt into belief, and belief into action.
If you’re carrying doubts or wondering if this joy is real, take a cue from these shepherds. Seek Jesus yourself, bring your doubts along if you need to, and let Him show you the truth that transforms. Let your encounter with Him fill you with a joy that you, too, can’t help but share.
Imagine being out in the fields at night, just minding your own business, when an angel appears out of nowhere with a message that changes everything. This is what happened to a group of shepherds, men considered low on the social scale, probably not used to getting any kind of special treatment.
And yet, the angel appeared to them with the most incredible news: the Savior of the world had been born nearby. The angel didn’t just tell them the news but invited them to see it for themselves, giving exact details of where they would find Jesus.
I can only imagine the doubts that must have crept in as the shepherds looked at each other, trying to process what had just happened. Maybe they thought, “Are we really worthy of such a message?” or “Did that just happen, or are we losing it?”
They had every reason to question it, to chalk it up to some strange dream, but instead, they chose to trust what they’d been told. They packed up, left their sheep, and went on their way to Bethlehem, determined to see this Savior with their own eyes.
When they arrived and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby just as the angel had said, their doubts disappeared. The truth was right in front of them, and in that moment, what began as skepticism turned into undeniable faith.
They met Jesus face-to-face, and that experience filled them with a joy they’d never known. This joy didn’t just stay with them, it transformed them. They couldn’t keep it to themselves, they had to tell others. They became some of the very first to spread the good news of Jesus, and those who heard them were amazed.
The shepherds returned to their fields, but they were no longer the same people. They glorified and praised God for everything they had seen and heard. The encounter with Jesus changed their lives, turning doubt into belief, and belief into action.
If you’re carrying doubts or wondering if this joy is real, take a cue from these shepherds. Seek Jesus yourself, bring your doubts along if you need to, and let Him show you the truth that transforms. Let your encounter with Him fill you with a joy that you, too, can’t help but share.
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