King Ahaz was frightened and in despair because of the enemy besieging Jerusalem. The prophet encouraged him and invited him to ask for any sign at all from God. Ahaz was so fearful he could not even do that, so Isaiah gave him one anyway: A young woman will conceive and bear a son. This was originally meant for Ahaz and his time, but God's prophecies echo across the centuries and it was used by the first Christians to illuminate Jesus. But the prophecy does not stop there - it applies to our own life. God will grant us new life and hope. We are not to give in to fear and despair. The Saviour is alive and at work always and everywhere, even this very moment.

Most of the time we want to know what is going to happen in the future - we don't like the unknown. Before we begin something or take a risk we want to know all the details and risks involved. That is human but this sort of fear can also imprison us and prevent us from doing wonderful things. The angel that appeared to Mary gave her startling news - she was to bear the Saviour. Any ordinary person would have demanded a lot more explanation and even then probably would have hesitated. Mary was extraordinary - after getting over her initial puzzlement she needed no more explanations. It was from God: that was enough! Let it be so! This was total trust in God and self-giving - if only we could do the same. God can do great things with us too.