The Nativity and Your Nervous System

(Why “Do Not Fear” Was the First Christmas Message)

Before angels spoke of joy or glory, they spoke to fear. That order was not accidental. God knew the body had to settle before the heart could receive good news.

That truth became clear to me in the years after the pandemic, during a season marked by work pressure, family responsibilities, financial strain, and ongoing uncertainty. While reading a book on longevity by Dr. Mark Hyman, I began to notice how deeply fear affects the body. Tension, mental fog, and difficulty praying were not just emotional states. They were physical signals.

What surprised me was realizing that what modern medicine describes, Scripture and the saints had already addressed.

Scripture speaks peace to the body first

Luke 2:10
“Do not fear, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy.”

The angels did not offer advice or techniques. They spoke reassurance. Peace had to come before joy could take root.

Fear narrows attention. It tightens the body. It clouds prayer. God spoke directly to that reality.

The saints knew fear lived in the body

St. Isaac the Syrian taught that fear constricts the heart and darkens spiritual perception. Peace, he said, restores clarity and draws the soul toward God.

Early Christians practiced prayer slowly and repetitively because they understood that the body must be calmed before the heart could listen. Peace was not rushed. It was received.

Revisiting the writings of the saints through the lens of health and longevity revealed how deeply integrated their wisdom was. The remedies were already there. Breath. Silence. Scripture. Stillness.

Science explains why the Nativity begins with reassurance

Modern neuroscience confirms that fear activates the stress response. Heart rate increases. Muscles tighten. Cortisol rises. When fear settles, the nervous system shifts into a state of safety.

Gentle reassurance combined with slow breathing activates the body’s calming pathways. When the body feels safe, the mind becomes open to meaning and connection.

The angels spoke exactly what the shepherds needed to hear.

A practice that restores calm

When stress rises, I return to simple embodied prayer. Slow breathing. Short Scripture. Quiet repetition.

Inhale slowly.
Exhale gently.
Pray softly.
“Lord Jesus Christ, give me peace.” (or other similar prayers)

Boundaries, silence, and a slower pace reinforce this rhythm. These practices are not escapes. They are returns to the way the body and soul were designed to function together.

Why this matters now

The Cult of Hustle keeps the nervous system on edge. Hollow Wellness tries to soothe symptoms without depth. Blue Church Living restores the wisdom of the Incarnation. Christ entered fear itself and spoke peace.

The Nativity shows us a God who calms before He calls, who reassures before He reveals, and who heals the body so the soul can receive joy.

That peace is not theoretical. It is available now.