Listening Like the Shepherds
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’” – Luke 2:8-10
If your home is anything like mine, this season has been filled with moments gathered around the couch, reading the Christmas story as a family. The children get excited about the animals in the manger or the gifts from the wise men, often tying the story to the anticipation of Santa coming to town. It’s a beautiful time, seeing their wonder and excitement as they learn about the birth of Jesus. But what if we paused to consider the story from a different perspective—not through the eyes of the wise men or the children, but through the shepherds? These were the ones chosen to hear the angel’s announcement and witness the miracle of Jesus’ birth, while the rest of the world carried on, unaware of the life-changing news unfolding under the night sky.
These young shepherds lived in isolation, waiting in the shadows of life. They weren’t in the marketplaces, the courts, or even their homes. They were somewhere “in between”—out in the fields, doing a job no one else wanted, not yet stepping into what their futures might hold. Yet, God saw them. And when heaven broke through to announce the arrival of the Savior, these overlooked, unseen young people were the first to hear.
It’s easy to see how this mirrors the experience of so many teenagers today. They’re often waiting in their own fields—hovering between childhood and adulthood, unsure of their role, unsure of their worth. They feel the weight of the dark fields, the sense that their best days are ahead but not yet here. And often, they wrestle with the belief that no one is watching, that their time hasn’t yet come.
But here’s the incredible part of the story: God chose them. He didn’t wait for the shepherds to grow up, for their lives to feel important, or for them to “arrive.” He met them in their waiting, and He brought them the good news of great Joy.
As we count down the hours to Christmas and battle the holiday rush, let’s take a moment to remember how the shepherds heard the angels on that midnight clear. While the rest of the world rushed on—distracted, overwhelmed, and too busy to notice the miracle unfolding above—the shepherds were sitting in the stillness of the fields. Away from the noise and chaos, they were in the perfect position to lift their eyes to the heavens and witness God’s glory breaking through the night.
The shepherds could hear the angel’s message because they were in the quiet fields by night, far from the distractions and noise of the world. Their isolation placed them in the perfect position to receive God’s message. In the same way, today’s young people need space to escape the overwhelming noise and chaos around them. When they step away from the buzz of social media, school pressures, and the world’s constant demands, their hearts, too, can be open to hearing from God. It’s often in the stillness, under the vastness of the stars, that they can hear the good news and discover the same great joy the shepherds experienced that night.
This season, as we celebrate the promise of Good News and Great Joy, we invite you to partner with us in building Knox Creek—a place where young people can encounter the same life-changing message that was proclaimed to the shepherds so many years ago. Together, we can create spaces where they can step away from the noise, find stillness, and lift their eyes to see how God is moving. Let’s leave a legacy of love, investing in a generation that will hear His voice and carry the promise of His joy into the world.