This holiday season, I invite you to look at the Christmas story through, perhaps, a difference lens—not just of all God did in giving us the gift of His Son—the promise of salvation, the prophesies fulfilled, the abiding presence of God for all who would believe.

All of those eternally glorious treasures came wrapped in that baby birthed by a poor yet faithful couple so long ago, and I praise God for that. But this story, told year after year and generation after generation, is more than a promise fulfilled and eternal hope proclaimed, as miraculous and glorious as those treasures are.

It’s also something of a hug for the outcast, the one who doesn’t feel good enough. It’s an invitation for all who feel rejected and insufficient. Through this precious child, God reaches out to everyone who’s ever believed the lie that they’re not good enough. Not smart, wealthy, prestigious enough, “righteous” enough.

All those who went to church seeking a Savior but encountered dress-code enforcers and rule-followers instead, and, feeling out of place, like they didn’t belong, sat in the back pew wondering if this Messiah, this King, could possibly see you.

I’ve been there. I’ve been the woman sitting at the back of the church who felt like she didn’t belong. And that’s why I love that God chose shepherds, a group of outcasts in their day, to proclaim His Son’s birth.

Luke 2:8-14 says,

⁸ That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. ⁹ Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, ¹⁰ but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. ¹¹ The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! ¹² And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Can you imagine what that must’ve felt like to those shepherds? There they were, minding their sheep, when an angel of God appeared to them, and the Lord’s glory surrounded them. This was a big deal, for a few reasons.

First, according to commentaries, shepherds were considered unreliable social outcasts, who, in the Talmud, weren’t allowed to act as witnesses in courts of law. According to theologian Warren Wiersbe, their work made them ceremonially unclean and kept them from the Temple, the center of Jewish life, for weeks at a time so that they couldn’t be “made clean.” In other words, they were considered “those types of people,” those you wouldn’t invite over to dinner or want to be seen with.

And yet, by God’s design, they were the first to hear of our Savior’s birth.

Scripture also tells us God’s glory surrounded them.

Also according to Wiersbe, this was the first time God’s glory had appeared on earth in centuries. If you’re familiar with God’s interaction with the Israelites, you know what a special role His glory played in their history.

It was God’s glory, visible in a pillar of cloud, that stood between them and a pursuing army when they were fleeing Egypt. God’s glory, once again visible in that same pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, led them, day after day, as they headed toward the land long promised them. When God gave Moses the 10 commandments, Scripture says His glory and brilliance rested on the mountain, and it looked like a consuming fire. Later, we learn God’s glory filled the Temple so completely, the priests couldn’t enter in.

God’s glory was His power and His presence, a miraculous display that left the Israelites in awe and assured them that the God of creation was with them. But then, because of their sin, God’s glory departed, and oh, the darkness that followed.

Until on that first quiet Christmas, when God once again appeared, not to kings or to priests or even devout prophets, but to dirty and unkempt shepherds who were quietly tending their sheep.

In this, God made clear that His grace, His presence, His invitation and love, is meant for you and me. We don’t have to clean ourselves up or make ourselves presentable to get to God. In Christ, He came to us.

This Christmas, whether surrounded by family and friends or quietly celebrating alone, may you remember that Christ reached down for you as well. May you sit in His glory this Christmas as you learn to live wholly loved.

How does it feel to know Creator God reached down to you?

If you’re struggling with grief and anxiety this holiday season, I encourage you to listen to our next Faith Over Fear podcast episode titled Finding Peace This Covid-19 Christmas. You can listen here:

How to Experience God's Presence When You Feel a Mess (ft. Stasi Eldredge) – Faith Over Fear

Have you ever felt like everyone else experiences a deeper connection with God than you do? You pray, read Scripture, and seek Him, yet struggle to sense His presence or experience His love beyond an intellectual understanding. This can leave you wondering if you're doing something wrong or if something within you is preventing you from drawing closer to Him. But what if past wounds, shame, and self-protective habits are creating barriers you don't even recognize? In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery talks with bestselling author Stasi Eldredge about moving from knowing about God to experiencing His love in a deeply personal way. Drawing from her own journey and her book The Ladder of Love, Stasi shares how God met her in a season of shame, how emotional wounds can hinder our ability to receive His affection, and how vulnerability can open our hearts to greater intimacy with Him. They also discuss what to do when God feels absent, why spiritual intimacy develops over time, and how to continue pursuing Him even when you can't sense His presence. Subscribe to Jennifer's newsletter for a chance to win her 20-gift giveaway bundle! Resource referenced: The Ladder of Love: A Pathway to Emotional Healing and Spiritual Intimacy with Jesus by Stasi Eldredge Scripture Referenced or Discussed: Song of Songs 1:15; Mark 12:29–30; James 4:8; Revelation 3:20; Mark 5:25–34; Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 2:12; 1 Peter 5:8 Connect with Stasi Eldredge: On her and her husband's website On Instagram On Facebook Find her work on Amazon Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter     Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

1. How to Experience God's Presence When You Feel a Mess (ft. Stasi Eldredge) 35:03
2. Hearing God: How to Move Forward in Confidence When You’re Unsure 34:55
3. When God Seems Silent: How to Trust He's Still Near 35:00
4. When You Fear You'll Miss God's Will: How to Hear Him with Confidence 38:03
5. Does it Feel Like You Can't Hear God? Practical Steps to Increase Spiritual Sensitivity 36:42